Full of hormones!
2003/09/14 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa
In addition to encouraging young people, hormones have another job. They help control and regulate the vital functions of animals and plants. And those are really fat words.
It is responsible, among other things, for controlling body growth, the development of sexual organs, heart rate and quantity of urine. And in metabolism they are also fundamental. Ask the child with diabetes. You will already know that the insulin you receive from outside is absolutely necessary. In fact, the diabetic child does not secrete enough insulin in the blood and should take it from the outside, since insulin is one of the hormones that is responsible for controlling the concentration of glucose or blood glucose.
Do they influence behavior?
The meaning of animals is largely due to hormones, which are responsible for synchronizing the reproductive period, among other things. However, the influence of culture on human behavior cannot be ruled out, so other animals can be taken as an example.
In the case of sheep, for example, the maternal instinct is driven by a hormone called ocina. It is known that once the lamb is stopped, the mother explores the whole body, but in reality the sheep are not attracted by the amniotic liquid that comes out to childbirth. However, contractions to childbirth cause the secretion of the ocina hormone, which prompts the sheep to explore a newborn lamb, soaked in amniotic fluid. In this way, the mother-child relationship is strengthened.
In the case of human beings, on the contrary, it is said that testosterone increases the aggressiveness (aggressiveness) of men, but not only that, not having an adequate level of testosterone affects well-being, both in men and in women.
Sign of youth
The work of the hormones begins in the fetus itself. Among other things, they contribute to the development of the child's sexual organs. And although in the early months of the child these sex hormones are still very active, in childhood they are usually somewhat silent. That, however, is nothing more than a calm before the storm, since when the child reaches adolescence the army of sex hormones begins to work to a full extent.
The passionate work of hormones gives the child the characteristics of youth: strength, rapidity, sexual desire, wit... and disillusionment is not lacking. Time and sense reduce shame, except for exceptions. And strength and vitality are not forever, nor are the other characteristics, unfortunately.
The first signs of old age appear when the production of sex hormones begins to decrease. This decline causes menopause in women and andropause in men. There are hormone based therapies, called substitute therapies, for cases in which the changes produced at this time negatively affect health.
Other non-sexual hormones also influence youth. Somatotropin, for example, promotes skin restoration, delays osteoporosis and keeps the heart strong, among other things. For something is called the youth hormone.
In general, less hormones are produced in old age, so it is worked with hormones in search of a magic potion to be always young.
Superman, from hormone to neck?
Athletes are the closest to the current concept of superman and superwoman: they are young, slender, strong and fast. But the dark shadow of doping on sport is never missing. EPO or erythropoietin is the most known prohibited substance. This hormone is used to improve the performance of athletes, as it favors the production of red blood cells and allows to transport more oxygen in the blood. This improves muscle activity but at the same time increases the risk of thrombosis.
In addition to EPO, other hormones are used to improve body performance. But many are banned because they can cause health problems. One of the forbidden hormones is clenbuterol. This hormone was made known about eight years ago by the spread of several people after eating the liver of animals. Clenbuterol favours muscle growth and the burning of fats. For this reason it has been donated to the reses of meat and competition. With the aim of getting muscular bodies, there are men and women who also take clenbuterol, although at lower doses.
We want to put the hormones in our favor. It seems that they are a shortcut to become supermen and superwomen and can be used to make a magic potion of youth forever. But that will not stop the passage of time. However, it should not be forgotten that hormones have contributed to improving the health of many people and that in the future they will have more uses as drugs.
Published in 7K.
Gai honi buruzko eduki gehiago
Elhuyarrek garatutako teknologia
