Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. Cortisol and the reproductive hormones (androgens in males and estrogens in females) are examples of steroid hormones.
| Chemical Class |
Water-or Lipid-soluble |
Examples |
| Eicosanoids |
Lipid soluble |
Prostaglandins, leukotrienes |
| Steroid hormones |
Lipid soluble |
Aldosterone, cortisol, androgens, calcitrol, testosterone, estrogens, progesterone |
| Thyroid hormones |
Lipid soluble |
T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) |
| Amines |
Water soluble |
Epinephrine and norepinephrine, melatonin, histamine |
| Peptides and proteins |
Water soluble |
All hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones, oxytocin, antidiuretic hormone; human growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, prolactin, melanocyte-stimulating hormone; insulin, glucagons, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide; parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, leptin |
