ADRENAL GLAND

Dr. Fatimah Eliana, SpPD, KEMD

 ADRENAL GLAND
1.The adrenal, or
suprarenal, gland
is paired.
2.They are located
on the upper
portion of each
kidney
ADRENAL GLAND
Adrenal Gland is divided into TWO distinct parts:
1. Adrenal Cortex from mesoderm
2. Adrenal Medulla from ectoderm

Adrenal Gland

Adrenal Cortex Adrenal Medulla

From Mesoderm From Neural crest

Figure 25.9a
ADRENAL CORTEX
 ADRENAL CORTEX
The adrenal cortex
is divided into:
1. Zona glomerulosa
2. Zona fasciculata
3. Zona reticularis
Adrenal Cortex

Zona glomerulosa

mineralocorticoids e.g. aldosterone

Zona fasciculata

glucocorticoids e.g. cortisol

Zona reticularis

Androgens e.g. testosterone and

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
ADRENOCORTICAL HORMONES

 They are all steroids

 The synthesis of the hormones involves
cytochrome P-450 enzymes
 The enzymes are located in the mitochondria
and endoplasmic reticulum
 Each zone secretes the hormones of ONLY
one pathway according to the group of
enzymes present
Hormones of the Adrenal Cortex
 Zona fasciculata
 It secretes the Glucocorticoids
 The most important are cortisol
and corticosterone
 Found mainly bound to plasma
globulin, transcortin
 They are regulated by pituitary
ACTH
 It is converted in the liver to
inactive cortisone
CORTISOL
Control of cortisol
 RELEASE OF
GLUCOCORTICOIDS IS
CONTROLLED BY ______
 LET’S LOOK AT ACTH
(adrenocorticotropic
Hormone)
 Produced in anterior pituitary gland
 ACTH
 Circulating levels of
cortisol
– levels cause stimulation of ACTH

– levels cause dec. release of ACTH

think tank: What type of feedback

mechanism is this??
 AFFECTED BY:
 Individual biorhythms
– ACTH LEVELS ARE HIGHEST 2 HOURS
BEFORE AND JUST AFTER
AWAKENING.
– usually 5AM - 7AM
– these gradually decrease rest of day
 Stress- cortisol production and
secretion
 Actions of Glucocorticoids
 Increases blood glucose by stimulating
gluconeogenesis which leads to glycogenesis and
inhibiting action of insulin on glucose uptake
 Inhibits amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in
extrahepatic tissues (catabolism), while stimulating
these processes in the liver (anabolism).
 Stimulates lipolysis in adipose tissue releasing FFA
 Water excretion due to the inhibitory effect of cortisol
on ADH
 Inhibits inflammatory and allergic reactions by
Inhibiting immune response due to the destruction of
lymphoid tissue resulting in decreased production of
antibody, lymphocytes, basophils, and easinophils.
 SUGAR
 GLUCOCORTICOIDS (regulate
metabolism & are critical in stress
response)
– CORTISOL responsible for control and
& metabolism of:

a. CHO (carbohydrates)

– amt. glucose formed

– amt. glucose released
 CORTISOL
b. FATS-control of fat metabolism
 stimulates fatty acid mobilization from
adipose tissue

c. PROTEINS-control of protein
metabolism
– stimulates protein synthesis in liver
– protein breakdown in tissues
 SUGAR

 Other fxs of Cortisol

– inflammatory and allergic
response

– immune system therefore

prone to infection
 REGULATION OF CORTISOL
SECRETION
DIURNAL
STRESS HYPOTHALAMUS
RHYTHM
+ - +
CRH

ANTERIOR PITUITARY
INCREASED
BLOOD GLUCOSE ACTH
-
BLOOD AA
BLOOD FATTY ACIDS
ADRENAL CORTEX
CORTISOL
TARGET ORGANS
 Zona Glomerulosa
 It secretes the
mineralocorticoids, mainly
aldosterone
 The main mineralocorticoid
in humans is aldosterone
 It is found bound to albumin
in the blood
 It regulates Na balance and
blood pressure
ALDOSTERONE
 Control of Aldosterone
By the renin-angiotensin system:
1.In response to drop in blood pressure
2.Decreased osmolality
Structure of Nephron

C
O
R
T
E
X
Glomerulus M
E
Loop Of Henle D
U
L
Collecting Duct L
A
 Structure of Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Distal
Convoluted
 Juxtaglomerular Tubule

apparatus is
composed of:
1. Juxtaglomerular
cells
2. Macula densa
cells
 Adrenal gland
Adrenal cortex
Zona glomerulosa

Distal tubules
Angiotensin II
Na
ACE
K/

Kidney
Blood Angiotensin I H

Juxtaglomerular
cells
Renin
Angiotensinogen

Liver
 Actions of Aldosterone
 Stimulates sodium reabsorption in the
kidneys
 Stimulates the excretion of
potassium and hydrogen ions
 Indirectly increases blood pressure
 SALT
 Mineralocorticoids (F & E balance)
– Aldosterone (renin from kidneys controls
adrenal cortex production of aldosterone)
 Na retention

 Water retention

 K excretion
 Question:
If your Na level is low, will
aldosterone secretion
or
If your serum K+ level is high, will
aldosterone secretion
or
• Renin-Angiotensin System:
 renal blood flow &/or  Na+

++ Juxtaglomerular apparatus of kidneys

(considered volume receptors)

Renin

Angiotensinogen Angiotensin I
Converting
(Lungs)
enzymes

Angiotensin III Angiotensin II

(powerful vasoconstrictor) (powerful vasoconstrictor)
Adrenal
cortex

Aldosterone Corticosterone
N.B. Aldosterone is the main regulator of Na+ retention.
Figure 6.12b
 Zona reticularis
 It is the innermost layer of the adrenal
cortex
 It is relatively inactive and
physiologically unimportant
 It secretes androgens
 In the female, they may contribute to the
pubertal and postmenopausal changes
 SEX
 ANDROGENS
– hormones which male
characteristics
 release of testosterone

 Seen more in women than men

 Hormones of the Adrenal Cortex

Figure 9.10

Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Slide 9.28b
ADRENAL MEDULLA
 ADRENAL MEDULLA
 Fight or flight
 What is released by the adrenal
medulla?
 Anatomy and Origin
• embryologically derived from
pheochromoblasts

• differentiate into modified neuronal cells

• more gland than nerve
• chromaffin cells
• acts like sympathetic ganglion
 Function of the Adrenal Medulla
• an extension of the sympathetic nervous
system

• acts as a peripheral amplifier

• activated by same stimuli as the

sympathetic nervous system

(examples – exercise, cold, stress,

hemorrhage, etc.)
 Catecholamine Synthesis
tyrosine
tyrosine hydroxylase

dihydroxyphenylalanine
L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase

dopamine
dopamine-B-hydroxylase

norepinephrine
phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase

epinephrine
 CATECHOLAMINE
RELEASE
 Epinephrine
 Norepinephrine
 Mechanism of Action

• receptor mediated – adrenergic receptors

• peripheral effects are dependent upon the

type and ratio of receptors in target tissues

Receptor  
Norepinephrine +++++ ++
Epinephrine ++++ ++++
Relative effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine on  and  adrenergic receptors.
Guyton
 ADRENAL MEDULLA
 It secretes the catecholamines, adrenaline
(80%) and noradrenaline (20%)
 They are called the fight or flight hormones or
the 3Fs (fear, flight, flight)
 Opioid peptides are also synthesized and co
secreted with the hormones
 They are released in response to stimulation by
acetylcholine from the preganglionic sympathetic
nerve endings
Actions of Adrenal medullary hormones
 Increase blood glucose by:
1. Promote glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
in the liver
2. Inhibit secretion of insulin
 Stimulate lipolysis with resultant increase in FFA
 Increase heart rate contraction and cause
branchodilatation
 Increase constriction of visceral blood vessels
and vasodilatation of skeletal muscles
 Decrease function of visceral organs
 Increase the basal metabolic rate and total
oxygen consumption (calorigenic)