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CHEMICAL REGULATION AND THE HORMONE CONCEPT
Author(s) -
HUXLEY JULIAN S.
Publication year - 1935
Publication title -
biological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.993
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1469-185X
pISSN - 1464-7931
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-185x.1935.tb00491.x
Subject(s) - hormone , activator (genetics) , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , receptor
Summary. Summing up, our general conclusions are therefore as follows: 1. The term hormone can only be defined biologically, as a chemical substance produced by one tissue with the primary function of exerting a specific effect of functional value on another tissue. 2. This biological definition is justifiable, and likely to prove of permanent value. 3. All gradations exist between hormones as above defined and substances which exert their specific effect on the same tissue by which they are produced. The term activator is proposed to cover these substances as well as hormones. 4. All gradations exist between hormones and activators above defined, and substances produced as by‐products of metabolism (normal or pathological) which then exert effects (of specific functional or of accidental nature) on the other tissues (or on the same tissue). For these the term parahormone (Gley) or para‐activator will serve. 5. Activators may be classified according to their means of transport: (a) Local activators , no transport, (b) Distance activators or hormones , with transport; (i) diffusion hormones , transport by diffusion, (ii) circulating hormones , transport by the blood stream or lymph.