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Why do only certain cells respond to a particular hormone?

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human endocrine system The principal glands of the female and male human endocrine systems.

Only certain cells respond to a particular hormone because target cells possess specific receptors that have a strong, highly specific affinity for that hormone.1

Hormonal actions are not general throughout the body; rather, they are aimed at specific target tissues that contain these receptors. The interaction between a hormone and its receptor is a critical element in initiating a cellular response. The presence of these receptors is determined by a cell's ability to express specific receptor genes.12

Depending on the type of hormone, these receptors are located in different areas of the target cell:
* Cell surface: Protein and peptide hormones bind to receptors located on the surface of target cells.1
* Intracellular: Steroid and thyroid hormones pass through the cell membrane to bind to receptors located within the cytoplasm or nuclei of the target cell.12

Once the hormone binds to its specific receptor, it forms a hormone-receptor complex that activates a chain of chemical responses within the cell, such as enzyme activation or the stimulation of protein synthesis.1