Question

How is the timing and amount of hormone release regulated in our body

Answer 1

• Hormones are the chemical substances which are secreted by our body in a specific amount and at a particular time. How much amount of hormone will be released and at what time is regulated by specific regulatory centers in our body. For example: Regulation of the release of insulin – Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and it maintains the level of glucose in blood. The amount of insulin released depends upon the increased concentration of glucose in blood. If the glucose level in the blood is very high then pancreas release higher amount of insulin. Lets take another example: Release of growth hormone: Onset of growth hormone occurs after half an hour of sleep. Therefore it is released by the pituitary gland at a particular time.

• The amount and time of hormones released into the body are controlled via three major control mechanisms which are parts of the inbuilt mechanism of the body.

These are as follows:-

• Humoral stimuli

• Neural stimuli

• Hypothalamo-pituitary axis

The first two regulates the timing and the third one regulates how much of the hormone is to be released.