noun
- A substance produced and released by cells in the body that has a local physiological effect, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter.
Usage: medical/pharmacology term; often used in plural form 'autacoids'
Examples
- Histamine is an autacoid that is released during allergic reactions.
- Autacoids like prostaglandins regulate inflammation in tissues.
- The body produces various autacoids that act on nearby cells.
- Serotonin functions as an autacoid in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Autacoids differ from hormones in that they act locally rather than systemically.