juvenile hormone

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of insect and plant hormones acting to inhibit the molting of a juvenile insect into its adult form.

juvenile hormone

noun

1. a hormone, secreted by insects from a pair of glands behind the brain, that promotes the growth of larval characteristics and inhibits metamorphosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of juvenile hormone¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

One hormone shown to be critical to development and vocational destiny in many species, known as juvenile hormone, is tightly regulated by enzymes that break it down if it is expressed at the wrong time during development.

From Science Magazine

In ants, previous research has shown that higher levels of juvenile hormone promote foraging behavior.

From Science Magazine

They noticed that soldiers had higher levels of a particular protein—an enzyme that degrades juvenile hormone, called juvenile hormone esterase, or Jhe.

From Science Magazine

“It shows that the traffic of juvenile hormone is probably very, very important,” she says.

From Science Magazine

One previous study in bees showed that juvenile hormone could bypass the insects’ blood-brain barrier and act on the brain.

From Science Magazine