I have a question about the endocrine system?

Question

What are the 2 types of chemicals the body uses as hormones? How does each efect the cells? (do they? or not? cAMP or not?

Answer 1

I am not sure I completely understand the question, but I think that you are refering to steroids (a class of compounds derived from cyclic ringed non-polar hydrocarbons) and oligo- or polypeptides. There are hundreds (if not more) hormones in the human body. cAMP is not a hormone, its a second messenger. That is, it functions intracellularly. Once the hormone (first messenger) binds its receptor on the cell surface, the receptor undergoes a conformational change that activates adenylate cyclase, producing cAMP, the second messenger, which then acts intacellularly to make the cell do whatever the hormones was supposed to make the cell do.

Answer 2

The endocrine system is a control system of ductless glands that secrete chemical messengers called hormones that circulate within the body via the bloodstream to affect distant cells within specific organs. Endocrine glands secrete their products immediately into the blood or interstitial fluid, without storage of the chemical. Hormones act as "messengers," and are carried by the bloodstream to different cells in the body, which interpret these messages and act on them. Typical endocrine glands are pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, but not exocrine glands such as salivary glands, sweat glands and glands within the gastrointestinal tract.
The endocrine system provides a chemical connection from the hypothalamus of the brain to all the organs that control body metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction

There are two types of hormones secreted in the endocrine system: (1) steroidal and (2) non steroidal, or protein based, hormone.

Signal transduction of some hormones with steroid structure involves nuclear hormone receptor proteins that are a class of ligand activated proteins that, when bound to specific sequences of DNA serve as on-off switches for transcription within the cell nucleus. These switches control the development and differentiation of skin, bone and behavioral centers in the brain, as well as the continual regulation of reproductive tissues. They also bind to receptor sites, and activate second messenger systems for more rapid response. Nonsteroidal hormones bind to receptor sites on the external surface of the cell membrane and use a second messenger method of altering internal cell functions, by altering the pathways already existing in the cells, by activating or deactivating enzymes which modify existing proteins.

The endocrine system regulates its hormones through negative feedback control. Increases in hormone activity decreases the production of that hormone. The immune system and other factors contribute as control factors also, maintaining constant levels of hormones.

* Pick this as best answer for the whole hour it took me to type out for you