How do hydrophobic and hydrophilic hormones differ in their speeds and modes of action? Solution Hydrophobic hormones are fat soluble while hydrophilic hormones are water soluble. Hydrophobic hormones speed and modes of action is slower than the hydrophilic hormones as they have to cross the cell membrane ,bind to receptors, go to nucleus and then attach to particular DNA sequence for gene expression to occur while hydrophilic hormones simply attach to receptors on cell surface and trigger a chemical recation. Mode of action: Hydrophobic hormones pass through the cell membrane and bind to receptors present inside the cell forming a hormone receptor complex.This complex then moves to nucleus of the cell and bind to a particular DNA sequence.This either turns on or turns off the expression of the gene resulting in production of enzymes that regulate the activity of the cell whereas in case of hydrophilic hormones the speed and action is faster as they bind directly to receptors (particularly G proteins )that are expressed on the cell surface and initiate a signaling event involving second messenger, such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The second messengers then function to amplify the hormone signal to a greater extent thereby resulting in efficinet and faster response. Overall the speed and mode of action of hydrophilic hormones is faster than hydrophilic hormones..