Which one of the following pairs of hormones are the examples of those that can easily pass through the cell membrane of the target cell and bind to a receptor inside it (mostly in the nucleus)?
- Insulin, glucagon
- Thyroxine, insulin
- Somatostatin, oxytocin
- Cortisol, testosterone
Answer
(4) Cortisol, testosterone
Solution
As per NCERT, hormones which interact with membrane-bound receptors normally do not enter the target cell (e.g., protein hormones such as insulin and glucagon, and peptide hormones such as somatostatin and oxytocin).
⇒ Hormones which interact with intracellular receptors (e.g., steroid hormones, iodothyronines) mostly regulate gene expression by interacting with the genome.
⇒ Cortisol and testosterone are both steroid hormones (lipid soluble) and cross the cell membrane easily.
∴ The correct pair is cortisol, testosterone.
Answer: (4)