Adrenocortical Hormones

Mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone,

influence mineral (electrolyte) balance,
specifically Na and K balance.
Glucocorticoids, primarily cortisol, play a major
role in glucose metabolism as well as in
protein and lipid metabolism and in
adaptation to stress.
• Sex hormones are identical or similar to those
produced by the gonads (testes in males, ovaries in
females). The most abundant and physiologically
important of the adrenocortical sex hormones is
dehydroepiandrosterone, an androgen, or “male” sex
hormone.
• Aldosterone
– Promotes Na+ retention and K+ elimination in
distal and collecting tubules
– Secretion increased by :
• Activation of RAAS (Reduction in Na+ and fall in blood
pressure)
• Rise in Plasma K+ concentration
• Regulation of Aldosterone is independent of Anterior
Pituitary Control
• Cortisol
– Metabolic effects
The overall effects is to increase the blood glucose
• It stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis
• Inhibits uptake of glucose by another tissue (except glucose)
• Stimulates protein degradation (especially in muscle), thus
increases blood amino acid concentration for
gluconeogenesis.
• Stimulates lipolysis and releasing free fatty acids (alternative
energy sources and conserving glucose to the brain)
• Adaptation to stress (protect brain from imposed
fasting period, providing amino acid for tissue repair if
physical injury occurred)
• Anti inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects
– It blocks prostaglandin and leukotrines synthesis
– Suppresses the migration of neutrpohil
– Interfering antibody production
• ACTH secretion is regulated by
hypotahalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis.
Other factors :
– Diurnal rhythm : governed by the suprachiasmatic
nucleus, highest level in the morning and lowest
at night
– Stress induced cortisol secretion
• Sex Hormones
– Androgen
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (most abundant adrenal
androgen) is important in females, such as growth of
pubic and axillary hair, pubertal growth support,
enhancement and maintenance of female sex drive.
– Estrogen (small quantities)
Disorders of Adrenocortical Hormones
• Hyperadrenalism
– Aldosterone hypersecretion
• Primary hyperalodsteronism or Conn’s Syndrome
• Secondary hyperaldoteronism, may be caused by
activation of RAAS, i.e atherosclerotic narrowing of the
renal arteries.
• Both causes hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and
hypertension (from fluid retention)
• Cortisol hypersecretion (Excessive cortisol
secretion causes Cushing’s Syndrome) can be
caused by:
– Oversecretion of CRH/ACTH
– Adrenal tumor that secretes ACTH (ACTH indepenent)
– ACTH secreting tumors located other than pituitary,
(i.e lung)
Causes excessive gluconeogenesis (adrenal diabetes).
Excessive glucose stored in the abdomen, above the
shoulder blades, and in the face.
The appendages remain thin caused by muscle
breakdown.
• Loss of muscle protein ---muscle weakness
and fatigue
 Adrenocortical insuffieciency
• primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison’s
disease)
– Destruction of all layers of adrenocortex (autoimmune
process)
• Secondary adrenocortical insuffieciency, caused
by insufficent ACTH secretion (only cortisol is
deficient)
Causes Hyperkalemia, hyponatremia,
hypotension, poor response to stress, and
hypoglycemia
TERIMA KASIH