Basis of differentiation | Paracrine signaling | Endocrine 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 |