Definition for Endocrine Signalling
From Biology Forums Dictionary
Endocrine signalling occurs over long distances. In both animals and plants, molecules involved in long-distance signalling are called hormones. They usually last longer than signalling molecules involved in autocrine and paracrine signalling. In animals, endocrine signalling involves the secretion of hormones into the bloodstream that may affect virtually all cells of the body, including those that are far from the cells that secrete the signalling molecules. In plants, hormones move through the vascular system and can also move through adjacent cells. Some hormones are even gases that are secreted into the air. Ethylene is a gas given off by plants that plays a variety of roles, such as the acceleration of fruit ripening.
