Hormones' Effect on Behavior

Hormones are chemical messengers released by endocrine cells or neurosecretory cells which regulate bodily functions and are highly specific in which tissues they react with and the response they elicit from those tissues (The Endocrine, 2005). There are four categories of hormones: amines, small molecules originating from amino acids, such as epinephrine and thyroid hormone; prostaglandins, cyclic unsaturated hydroxy fatty acids synthesized in membranes from 20-carbon fatty acid chains; steroids, cyclic hydrocarbon derivatives produced from the precursor steroid cholesterol, e.g. testosterone and estrogen; and peptide and protein hormones, the largest and most complex hormones, e.g. insulin.

There are many hormones that can influence behavior, the most significant being the gonadal, placental. thyroid, and adrenal hormones (Depression, 2003; The Endocrine, 2005). The gonads and placenta produce a number of hormones. Androgens such as testosterone influence the development and maintenance of the male reproductive tract, secondary sex characteristics, and behavior. In the female, estrogens such as estradiol function in the development and maintenance of the reproductive tract, stimulation of the mammary glands, development of secondary sex characteristics, and the regulation of behavior.

A lot of research has been carried out on the effects of hormones on behavior and it has been determined that even normal fluctuations in hormone levels affects behavior (The Endocri

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ves causing the pain of headache. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is another mood disorder caused by a hormonal imbalance (The Endocrine, 2005). Symptoms of this disorder usually begin in the fall as the daylight hours begin to shorten, and the problem lasts until the springtime, when the days get longer once more. Symptoms of SAD include depression, tiredness, increased appetite, and irritability. The order is directly related to melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland, located in the center of the brain. The hormone can accumulate in the hypothalamus where it can affect the long-term releasing factors influencing growth and reproductive development, and the circannual rhythm (seasonal timing). Very little melatonin is secreted during the daytime but a greater amount is secreted at night. Because the winter months have longer nights, more melatonin is produced and so the level of melatonin in the body increases. The production of melatonin affects overall mood and causes SAD. There is little evidence on the exact mechanism by which this happens or why, but there are many ways to cure the problem, e.g. with artificial lighting. Also, it has been shown that changes in melatonin levels in

Category: Medical - H