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What are the differences between paracrine signaling and endocrine signaling?
Posted September 27, 2023

Answer
Basis of differentiationParacrine signalingEndocrine signaling

Definition

Paracrine signaling is when a cell signals to its adjacent cells using chemical messengers 

Endocrine signals transmit over long distances, typically using the circulatory system 

Ligand concentration

Is comparatively low

Is comparatively high 

Timespan

Are slow responses but induce long-lasting effects

Are fast responses but for shorter periods of time

Involvement of hormones

Hormones act locally via diffusion from their source to neighboring target cells

Hormones are dispersed in the blood and attach to distant target cells elsewhere in the body