What types of hormones are there?
Hormones can be divided up on the basis of their chemical structure into 5 groups:
1. Those derived directly from the amino acid tyrosine, including:
- thyroxine
- triiodothyronine
- adrenaline
- noradrenaline
2. Those made up of short chains of amino acids, including:
- adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
- corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH)
- thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH)
- gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
- growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)
- vasopressin
- oxytocin
- somatostatin
- gastrin
- glucagon
- calcitonin
3. Those made up of long chains of amino acids, including:
- insulin
- growth hormone (GH)
- prolactin
- parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- cholecystokinin (CCK)
- secretin
4. Those made up of proteins linked with glucose molecules forming glycoproteins, including:
- thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- luteinising hormone (LH)
5. Those derived from cholesterol thus forming lipid soluble steroid hormones, including:
- oestrogens
- progesterones
- testosterone
- androstenedione
- aldosterone
- cortisol