Section 3
Mechanisms of Hormone Action
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Version 29
By Boundless
By Boundless
Boundless Anatomy and Physiology
Physiology
by Boundless
3 concepts
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/3667/square/nuclear-receptor-action.jpg)
Direct Gene Activation and the Second-Messenger System
Nuclear receptors function as transcription factors because they can bind to DNA and regulate gene expression.
Target Cell Specificity
Hormones target a limited number of cells (based on the presence of a specific receptor) as they circulate in the bloodstream.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/16854/raw/-follicle-26-corpus-luteum.jpg)
Onset, Duration, and Half-Life of Hormone Activity
A hormone's half-life and duration of activity are limited and vary from hormone to hormone.