Page 130 - The Miracle of Hormones

THE MIRACLE OF HORMONES

lished in the body. At the top of this chain of command is the hypothala-
mus.
After birth, the hypothalamus secretes a hormone called LHRH
every 3-4 hours, but the amount secreted is very small. About ten years
later, the hypothalamus actually "understands" that the time has come
to begin the shaping of the male body and begins to secrete LHRH in
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smaller intervals. The LHRH hormone moves to the second link in
the chain of command, the pituitary gland. As soon as the pituitary
gland receives the command, it secretes another hormone called LH.
This hormone gives the command to activate the male sex glands, the
testes.

Why do all these functions take so long to begin and how can we ex-
plain the timing of these mechanisms? The answers to these questions
are still unknown to the world of science. In any case, this system (whose
secrets human beings have not been able to solve) has operated since the
beginning of history in the body of every human being.
When the LH hormone reaches the testes via the bloodstream, the
cells there begin to produce a hormone called testosterone. The cells that
produce testosterone know the time has come for the body they occupy
to pass from childhood to manhood. The chemical formula of the testo-
sterone they produce will turn a developing child into a man.
Testosterone molecules disperse to various parts of the body and
know what they must do to certain cells in these areas. Some of the func-
tions of testosterone in forming the male body are as follows:
Testosterone molecules cause the multiplication of muscle cells. For
this reason, the male body is more muscular and stronger than the female
body. The increase in muscle mass gives the male body its characteristic
appearance.
At the same time, testosterone molecules affect the cells in the roots

of the hair, causing the beard and mustache to appear. The hairline on the
forehead is drawn farther back.

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