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AAT Bioquest

Is the hormonal activity inside the human body regulated by paracrine signaling?

Posted September 27, 2023


Answer

Hormonal activity inside the human body is primarily regulated by endocrine signaling, rather than paracrine signaling. There are some instances however where paracrine signaling has a role in regulating hormone secretion. Examples of these hormones include GABA (released by B cells) and somatostatin (released by delta cells). It has been suggested that GABA is a paracrine signal secreted to inhibit alpha cells, which may be the reason that the increase in glucose concentration leads to increases in insulin secretion while inhibiting glucagon secretion at the same time. Receptors for somatostatin have been identified to varying endocrine cells and their activation inhibits all endocrine cells which exist in the islet. 

Additional resources

Signaling molecules and their receptors

Cell Signaling Pathways

Amplite® Colorimetric Sphingomyelinase Assay Kit *Blue Color*