In: Biology
List three processes which could affect the serum concentration of a hormone.
Serum concentration of hormones is important to regulate the body functioning since it's activity is crucial for life to sustain. Only threshold amount of hormone is needed to control the actions of target cells, and it is maintained by feedback loop mechanism.
Main processes affect serum concentration of hormone are
1. Rate of production. : synthesis is the most controlled action of the hormone system via feedback loop mechanism.
2. Rate delivery : amount of hormone delivery is mainly controlled by blood flow to the target organ or cells
3. Rate of elimination ( degradation) : degradation depends on the half-life of the hormone. Hormone with shorter half life will eliminate fastly and produce fastly, but one with longer half-life will persist for longer time after secretion.