Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (524 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Hormones synthesized from amino acids. They are distinguished from intercellular signaling peptides and proteins in that their actions are systemic.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Peptide Hormone; Hormone, Peptide; Hormones, Peptide; Polypeptide Hormones; Hormones, Polypeptide; Polypeptide Hormone; Hormone, Polypeptide.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Hormones; Peptides
- Narrower topics
- Activins; Adipokines; Adrenomedullin; Angiotensins; Bombesin; Calcitonin; Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; Gastrins; Ghrelin; Gonadotropins; Hypothalamic Hormones; Inhibins; Motilin; Natriuretic Peptides
- See also
- Receptors, Peptide; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Related concepts
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 805,380 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Peptide Hormones” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 87,249 of them (10.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 404,837 records.
Reviews account for 82,237 records (10.2%) and meta-analyses for 4,830. Randomized controlled trials number 31,615 (3.9%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 404,837 |
| 2000-2009 | 154,624 |
| 2010-2019 | 158,670 |
| 2020 onward | 87,249 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 82,237 | 10.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 4,830 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 31,615 | 3.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Peptide Hormones"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stable clique membership in male mouse societies requires oxytocin-enabled social sensory states | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42608410 · DOI · PMC13484484 |
| A nutrient-sensitive enterokine coordinates developmental plasticity through inter-organ signaling | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42579652 · DOI · PMC13460628 |
| Oxadiazolone-Triazole Derivatives as a New Scaffold for Modulation of Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Contraction | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42675545 · DOI · PMC13530322 |
Stable clique membership in male mouse societies requires oxytocin-enabled social sensory states [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The ability to establish stable de novo relationships in complex environments is essential for social functioning but disrupted in disorders such as autism.
- Closing excerpt
- Our findings identify oxytocin-dependent social sensory states as a necessary mechanism for forming stable relationships in complex social networks.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (160 words)
The ability to establish stable de novo relationships in complex environments is essential for social functioning but disrupted in disorders such as autism. Yet, the mechanisms supporting higher-order bonding in large groups remain unclear. Here, we introduce a naturalistic model of clique formation in mouse societies, using longitudinal tracking from large-scale video data. We show that small, stable cliques emerged from the specific group configurations. Consistently, also kinship did not significantly facilitate entry. These cohesive cliques resembled human mutually interacting rich-clubs, exhibiting high social rank and influence over non-members. We next examined whether oxytocin signaling in the olfactory cortex supports such higher-order bonding. Despite preserved social motivation, mice with conditional oxytocin receptor deletion in this sensory cortex failed to join rich-clubs, approached peers less consistently, and received unstable reciprocal connections. This network-level disorganization demonstrates how social dynamics can magnify individual deficits. Our findings identify oxytocin-dependent social sensory states as a necessary mechanism for forming stable relationships in complex social networks.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42608410 · DOI · PMC13484484
A nutrient-sensitive enterokine coordinates developmental plasticity through inter-organ signaling [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Animal survival in fluctuating environments depends on the ability to modulate their developmental pace in response to nutrient availability, a phenomenon known as developmental plasticity.
- Closing excerpt
- Our work expands the concept of decretins to include developmental pace control, suggesting that enterokines that regulate IGF signaling, rather than insulin release per se, may represent an evolutionarily conserved or convergent strategy in regulating developmental plasticity.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (200 words)
Animal survival in fluctuating environments depends on the ability to modulate their developmental pace in response to nutrient availability, a phenomenon known as developmental plasticity. In Drosophila larvae, we uncover a critical endocrine mechanism that coordinates this process under conditions of amino acid restriction. We identify the peptide hormone Limostatin as an enterokine, produced by a small population of larval midgut enteroendocrine cells, that acts systemically to inhibit the expression and release of dIlp2, a major insulin-like peptide controlling developmental progression. Limostatin expression and secretion by enteroendocrine cells is triggered by reduced amino acid availability through an inter-organ relay involving the fat body and neuroendocrine insulin-producing cells in the brain. In turn, Limostatin participates in a feedback control loop that slows down developmental progression once systemic nutrient shortage is sensed. This bidirectional gut-brain axis enables larvae to preserve viability under nutritional stress. Our findings define the larval gut as a nutrient-sensitive endocrine organ and position Limostatin as a key regulator of developmental plasticity. Our work expands the concept of decretins to include developmental pace control, suggesting that enterokines that regulate IGF signaling, rather than insulin release per se, may represent an evolutionarily conserved or convergent strategy in regulating developmental plasticity.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42579652 · DOI · PMC13460628
Oxadiazolone-Triazole Derivatives as a New Scaffold for Modulation of Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Contraction [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- In this study, a series of novel angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonist candidates containing the 1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-one nucleus and a 1,2,3-triazole moiety was designed, synthesized, and evaluated.
- Closing excerpt
- In silico ADME predictions indicated acceptable drug-like properties, including compliance with drug-likeness filters and a predicted bioavailability score, and no blood-brain barrier permeation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (164 words)
In this study, a series of novel angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antagonist candidates containing the 1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-one nucleus and a 1,2,3-triazole moiety was designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Compounds 7a-j were obtained via a semiconvergent synthetic route employing copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (click chemistry), yielding the target molecules in moderate to good yields. Biological activity was assessed through vascular reactivity assays using rat aortic rings in the presence of angiotensin II. Most compounds reduced angiotensin II-induced contraction, consistent with a putative AT1 receptor antagonist profile. Among them, compound 7f, bearing a methylenedioxyphenyl substituent, exhibited the most favorable biological profile within the series. The results indicate that electron-donating groups favor activity, while strongly electron-withdrawing substituents, such as nitro, are detrimental. Molecular docking studies predicted consistent interactions with key residues, particularly Arg167 and Tyr87, providing a plausible structural rationale for the observed biological activity. In silico ADME predictions indicated acceptable drug-like properties, including compliance with drug-likeness filters and a predicted bioavailability score, and no blood-brain barrier permeation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42675545 · DOI · PMC13530322
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Associations of Testosterone and Related Hormones With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Men : Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses [4]
- Research article Efficacy and Safety of Different Hybrid Closed Loop Systems for Automated Insulin Delivery in People With Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis [5]
- Research article Evidence that tirzepatide protects against diabetes-related cardiac damages [6]
- Research article Efficacy and Safety of Automated Insulin Delivery Systems in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [7]
- Research article Real-world glycaemic outcomes of automated insulin delivery in type 1 diabetes: A meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Benefits and Harms of Procalcitonin- or C-Reactive Protein-Guided Antimicrobial Discontinuation in Critically Ill Adults With Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis [9]
References
- Nelias C, Ghanayem S, Wolf D, Moor M, Nikolantonaki D, Turgut ED, et al.. Stable clique membership in male mouse societies requires oxytocin-enabled social sensory states. . 2026. PMID 42608410 · DOI · PMC13484484
- Bai L, Montagne J, Ramos CI, Leulier F. A nutrient-sensitive enterokine coordinates developmental plasticity through inter-organ signaling. . 2026. PMID 42579652 · DOI · PMC13460628
- Ferreira LFL, Vasconcelos DGA, Santos RCA, Ferreira JG, Araújo AV, Anjos JVD. Oxadiazolone-Triazole Derivatives as a New Scaffold for Modulation of Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Contraction. . 2026. PMID 42675545 · DOI · PMC13530322
- Yeap BB, Marriott RJ, Dwivedi G, Adams RJ, Antonio L, Ballantyne CM, et al.. Associations of Testosterone and Related Hormones With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Men : Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses. Ann Intern Med. 2024. PMID 38739921 · DOI · PMC12768424
- Di Molfetta S, Di Gioia L, Caruso I, Cignarelli A, Green SC, Natale P, et al.. Efficacy and Safety of Different Hybrid Closed Loop Systems for Automated Insulin Delivery in People With Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2024. PMID 39298688 · DOI
- Taktaz F, Scisciola L, Fontanella RA, Pesapane A, Ghosh P, Franzese M, et al.. Evidence that tirzepatide protects against diabetes-related cardiac damages. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2024. PMID 38555463 · DOI · PMC10981817
- Fan W, Deng C, Xu R, Liu Z, Leslie RD, Zhou Z, et al.. Efficacy and Safety of Automated Insulin Delivery Systems in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Diabetes Metab J. 2025. PMID 39533812 · DOI · PMC11960199
- Yang Q, Zeng B, Hao J, Yang Q, Sun F. Real-world glycaemic outcomes of automated insulin delivery in type 1 diabetes: A meta-analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024. PMID 38888056 · DOI
- Kubo K, Kubo K, Sakuraya M, Sugimoto H, Takahashi N, Kano KI, et al.. Benefits and Harms of Procalcitonin- or C-Reactive Protein-Guided Antimicrobial Discontinuation in Critically Ill Adults With Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Crit Care Med. 2024. PMID 38949476 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.