Adrenal Gland: An Overview

INTRODUCTION
 Adrenal Gland: An Overview

 Produces steroid hormones & neuropeptides essential for life
 Conditions affect blood pressure & electrolyte balance.
 Hypofunction is treated with exogenous hormone
replacement, hyperfunction with pharmacologic suppression
or surgery.
ADRENALS
 Composed of outer
adrenal cortex & inner
adrenal medulla
 Pyramid-shaped, located
just above & medial to
kidneys
 Glands are about the size
of a grape
 Arterial supply is
symmetric; axons reach
medulla through cortex.
ANATOMY
 Zona Glomerulosa
 G-Zone Cells
 outer 10%
 Synthesize mineralocorticoids
 Zona Fasciculata
 F-Zone Cells
 middle 75%
 Synthesize glucocorticoids
 Zona Reticularis
 R-Zone Cells
 inner 10%
 Secrete sex steroids (androgens)
CLASSES OF ADRENAL CORTEX
HORMONES
 Mineralocorticoids
 Regulate electrolytes
 Critical for sodium retention, potassium, & acid–base homeostasis
 Aldosterone
 Controlled by the renin-angiotension system
 Promotes potassium secretion
 Increases plasma sodium

HORMONES
 Glucocorticoids
 Involved with metabolism of protein, carbohydrate and
mineral metabolism
 Critical to blood glucose homeostasis & blood pressure
 Plays a role in suppression of inflammatory and allergic

reactions
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
 Cortisol- principle member
 Functions
 Acts be penetrating cell nucleus, binding DNA, and altering the
transcription of RNA
 Insulin antagonist
 95% circulates bound to protein
 Breaks down muscle proteins with enzymes
 Mobilizes fat for energy purposes
 Lessens immune response by inhibiting antibody formation

CORTISOL REGULATION
 Hypothalamus secretes CRH (Corticotropin-
releasing hormone)
 CRH activates adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)in
the anterior pituitary
 ACTH controls cortisol production
 Low levels of cortisol, promote ACTH release
 Elevated levels of cortisol, inhibit ACTH release
CORTISOL/CORTISONE
 Conjugated and excreted in the urine as 17-
hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS)
HORMONES
 Sex steroids
 Androgens
 Testosterone is the principal androgen
 Very little testosterone is secreted by the adrenal cortex
ADRENAL MEDULLA HORMONES
 Characteristics
 Produced in small amounts and extremely potent, rapidly
inactivated
 Amine-type of hormone
 Produced from tyrosine, activate c-AMP
 Mobilize energy stores and prepares body for muscular activity
 Increased amounts secreted during stress

CATECHOLAMINE MEMBERS
 Norepinephrine/ Noradrenaline
 Epinephrine/Adrenaline
 Increases blood glucose via breakdown of glycogen
 Increases heart rate and blood pressure
 Causes sweating and dilation of the eyes
EXCRETION OF CATECHOLAMINES
 Metabolism of catecholamines occurs by various
pathways to form
 Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)
 Metanephrine
 Metanephrine
 Normetanephrine
 Homovanillic acid
DAMAGE/MALFUNCTION OF GLAND
 Cushing Syndrome
 Too much cortisol is produced.
 Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity,
rounded faces, increased fat around neck, and thinning arms
and legs.
 Weakening of the bones and easy bruising of the skin is also
common.
 Cushing Syndrome is caused by either an abnormality in the
adrenal cortex such as a tumor, or because the pituitary gland
is producing too much ACTH (the hormone that causes the
adrenal cortex to produce cortisol).
ADDISON DISEASE
 Occurs when adrenal cortex does not produce
enough cortisol.
 Symptoms include weight loss, muscle
weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, and
sometimes darkening of the skin.
 This could be caused again by adrenal cortex
abnormalities or inadequate secretion of ACTH.
 If symptoms worsen suddenly due to a stressful
event (addisonian crisis) it can be fatal
WATERHOUSE-FRIDERICHSEN
SYNDROME
 An adrenal gland failure due to bleeding into the adrenal
gland.
 Caused by extreme infections.
 Symptoms include profound shock and is deadly if not

treated immediately.
Progestins Are the Biosynthetic
Precursors of the All Other Steroid
Hormones
Cholesterol
Progestins
Glucocorticoids Androgens
Mineralocorticoids Estrogens
Steroids of the
Adrenal Cortex
Mitochondria
Zona glomerulosa cells lack the P450c17 that converts pregnenolone and progesterone to their
C17 hydroxylated analogs. Thus, the pathways to the glucocorticoids and the androgens are
blocked.
http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/steroid-hormones.html

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INTRODUCTION

 Adrenal Gland: An Overview

 Increases plasma sodium

 Plays a role in suppression of inflammatory and allergic

 95% circulates bound to protein

 Breaks down muscle proteins with enzymes

 Mobilizes fat for energy purposes

 Lessens immune response by inhibiting antibody formation

 Increased amounts secreted during stress

 Symptoms include profound shock and is deadly if not

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