Which hormone is most potent?

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Multiple Choice

Which hormone is most potent?

Potency here means the strength of a hormone’s effect at its target receptors. Triiodothyronine (T3) is the active thyroid hormone that binds thyroid hormone receptors with higher affinity and elicits greater transcriptional changes per molecule than thyroxine (T4). T4 acts mainly as a circulating reservoir and must be converted to T3 in tissues to become biologically active, so its effect is less potent. Calcitonin influences calcium homeostasis but its systemic actions are relatively modest. TSH is a pituitary regulator that stimulates the thyroid to release hormones rather than acting directly with strong metabolic effects on target tissues. Thus, the most potent among these is T3.

Potency here means the strength of a hormone’s effect at its target receptors. Triiodothyronine (T3) is the active thyroid hormone that binds thyroid hormone receptors with higher affinity and elicits greater transcriptional changes per molecule than thyroxine (T4). T4 acts mainly as a circulating reservoir and must be converted to T3 in tissues to become biologically active, so its effect is less potent. Calcitonin influences calcium homeostasis but its systemic actions are relatively modest. TSH is a pituitary regulator that stimulates the thyroid to release hormones rather than acting directly with strong metabolic effects on target tissues. Thus, the most potent among these is T3.

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