Final answer:
Steroid hormones have a slower but long-lasting effect compared to peptide hormones. They are lipid-derived, not soluble in water, and utilize intracellular receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steroid hormones have a slower but long-lasting effect compared to peptide hormones. This is because steroid hormones, such as cortisol and testosterone, are lipid-derived hormones that are not soluble in water and must travel to their target cells bound to a transport protein. This more complex structure extends the half-life of steroid hormones longer than that of peptide hormones. For example, the half-life of cortisol is about 60 to 90 minutes, while the half-life of epinephrine, a peptide hormone, is approximately one minute.
Moreover, steroid hormones utilize intracellular receptors, meaning they can permeate plasma membranes and bind with receptor proteins in the cytoplasm. Once inside the cell, the steroid hormone-receptor complex moves into the nucleus and influences the expression of genes. On the other hand, peptide hormones and amino acid-derived hormones are water-insoluble and require cell surface receptors to initiate signaling events or cellular mechanisms.
In conclusion, the slower and long-lasting effect of steroid hormones stems from their lipid solubility, longer half-life, and utilization of intracellular receptors, while peptide hormones exhibit more rapid effects due to their water solubility and interaction with cell surface receptors.