BioConcepts

hormoneHormon (ger.)

• Any of numerous organic compounds that are secreted into the body fluids of an animal, particularly the bloodstream, by a specific group of cells and regulate some specific physiological activity of other cells; also, any synthetic compound having such an effect. (OED 2011)
  category regulation

  1905

  These chemical messengers, however, of ‘hormones’ […] as we might call them

  Starling, E.H. (1905). The Croonian lectures: On the chemical correlations of the functions of the body. Lecture I. Lancet 1905, 339-341: 340.

  1906

  The first products of digestion act on the pyloric mucous membrane, and produce in this membrane a substance which is absorbed into the blood stream, and carried to all the glands of the stomach, where it acts as a specific excitant of their secretory activity. This substance may be called the gastric secretin or gastric hormone.

  Starling, E.H. (1906). Mercers’ Company Lectures on Recent Advances in the Physiology of Digestion: 75.

  1932

  Hormone sind solche im Stoffwechsel eines Organismus gebildete Substanzen, welche für den Bestand des Individuums oder der Art wichtige Reizwirkungen im produzierenden Organismus selbst oder an anderen Lebewesen hervorzurufen imstande sind

  Bethe, A. (1932). Vernachlässigte Hormone. Naturwiss. 20, 177-181: 178.

  1982

  hormone A chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland that produces a specific physiological response on some remote target tissue or system.

  Lincoln, R.J., Boxshall, G.A. & Clark, P.F. (1982). A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics: 118.