Hormone receptors are like locks that only specific hormone ‘keys’ can open. They’re specialized protein structures on cell surfaces or inside cells that recognize and bind to specific hormones.
The Lock and Key System:
Each hormone has a unique shape that fits only into matching receptors, like a key fitting into a lock. When a hormone binds to its receptor, it triggers a series of events inside the cell that produce the hormone’s effect. This specificity is why estrogen doesn’t cause the same effects as cortisol – they bind to completely different receptors.
Types of Receptors:
Some receptors are on the cell surface and work by triggering signaling cascades (like insulin receptors). Others are inside cells, where hormones must pass through the cell membrane first (like steroid hormone receptors for estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol).
Receptor Sensitivity:
The number and sensitivity of receptors can change. This is partly why hormone resistance occurs – when receptors become less sensitive or cells produce fewer receptors, more hormone is needed to create the same effect. This happens in insulin resistance and can occur with other hormones too.
