Question

Which one of the following pairs of hormones are the examples of those that can easily pass through the cell membrane of the target cells and bind to a receptor inside it (mostly in the nucleus)?

• A. Insulin and glucagon
• B. Thyroxine and insulin
• C. Somatostatin and oxytocin
• D. Cortisol and testosterone
  
  

Answer 1

The correct option is D Cortisol and testosterone



Steroid hormones include testosterone, estrogen and cortisol and are lipid derived. Lipid-derived (soluble) hormones such as steroid hormones diffuse across the membranes of easily.

All the other hormones mentioned in the options are either amino acids derived or a peptide hormone.
Amino acid derived hormones and polypeptide hormones are not lipid-derived (lipid-soluble) and therefore cannot diffuse through the plasma membrane of cells.