Hormones

In mammals, hormones can be defined as endocrine signals secreted by endocrine glands and neurosecretory cells into the circulatory system. However, some secreted molecules with short-range action on nearby cells can also be considered hormone-like signals. The main function of hormones is to maintain tissue and organ homeostasis by affecting the proliferation, differentiation, and function of their target cells. This is fundamental for the normal function of the central nervous system. In fact, one of the principal comorbid pathologies for most neurological and psychiatric diseases is developmental alterations caused by abnormal hormonal function. This is the case with thyroid hormones because they regulate the expression of key genes involved in central nervous system development. Most of these genes have also been found to be mutated ...