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Neurohormones

Meaning

Chemical messengers synthesized and released by specialized nerve cells, known as neurosecretory cells, that travel through the bloodstream to target cells in distant tissues, functioning essentially as a bridge between the nervous and endocrine systems. These critical signaling molecules include releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus, such as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and hormones released by the posterior pituitary, like Vasopressin and Oxytocin. Neurohormones are the fundamental drivers of the hypothalamic-pituitary axes, dictating the overall rhythm and output of the entire endocrine system. Their precise regulation is paramount for systemic homeostasis.