1. Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 1
2. Adrenal Glands
• Suprarenal glands
• Divided into
– outer Cortex and inner Medulla
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 2
3. Adrenal Glands
• Suprarenal glands weigh 5 gm
• Divided into outer Cortex (80% of gland)
and inner Medulla (20% of gland)
• Despite their organization
– into a single gland, the medulla and cortex
are functionally different endocrine organs,
and have different embryological origins.
• The medulla
– is derived from ectoderm (neural crest),
– while the cortex develops from mesoderm.
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 3
5. Adrenal Medulla
• Cells in the adrenal medulla
– synthesize and secrete catecholamine
• norepinephrine, epinephrine & dopamine
– also small amount of opioid peptides
• met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin
• Roughly 80% of the catecholamine output
is epinephrine
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 5
6. Adrenal Medulla
In adrenal medulla
The chromaffin cell is the principle
cell type.
There are epinephrine releasing
chromaffin cells and norepinephrine
releasing cells
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 6
7. Adrenal Medulla
• 80% of chromaffin cells
– secrete adrenalin
– 20% secrete nor adrenalin
The medulla is richly
innervated
by preganglionic sympathetic
fibers
and is, in essence, an extension
of the sympathetic nervous
system.
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 7
8. Adrenal Medulla
• The chromaffin cells
– are like the post
ganglionic cells
– in the sympathetic
nervous system
• The pre-ganglionic
fibres
– Originate from T5 – T9
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 8
T5 – T9
Symp pre-
ganglionic
nerve
Chromaffin
cells
Adrenalin
Noradrenalin
9. Adrenal Medulla
• These preganglionic
fibres
– release acetylcholine
as the
neurotransmitter
• Ach cause the
chromaffin cells to
release
– Adrenalin
– Nor-adrenalin
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 9
T5 – T9
Symp pre-
ganglionic
nerve
Chromaffin
cells
Adrenalin
Noradrenalin
Ach
10. Adrenal Medulla
• Adrenalin
– Mainly produced in adrenal medulla
– Small amount is secreted in brain
• Nor adrenalin
– Widely distributed in neural tissues
including
• Adrenal medulla
• Sympathetic postganglionic fibers
• CNS
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 10
12. Control of Secretion
• Secretion of catecholamine
– by chromaffin cells is stimulated by
• Acetylcholine
• Angiotensin II
• Histamine
• Bradykinin
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 12
13. Control of Secretion
• Stress
– Flight or fight reaction
– Activation of sympathetic system
• Fear, anxiety, pain, trauma,
hemorrhage
• Any stressful situation
– Lead to release of catecholamines
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 13
14. Physiological Actions
• In general,
– circulating
epinephrine&norepinephrine
– released from the adrenal medulla
– have the same effects on target
organs as direct stimulation by
sympathetic nerves.
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 14
15. Physiological Actions
• Complex physiologic responses
– result from adrenal medullary
stimulation
– because there are multiple
receptor types
– which are differentially expressed
– in different tissues and cells
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 15
16. Physiological Actions
• Effects depend on the type of
receptors on target organ
– receptors or receptors
• Adrenaline act on both and
receptors
• Nor adrenaline act mainly on
receptors
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 16
17. Physiological Actions
• Adrenergic receptors
– Associated with excitatory function of
the body
– Associated with inhibitory functions of
intestinal motility
• Adrenergic receptors
– Associated with most of inhibitory
functions of the body
• Except on the myocardium
–Excitation
• 31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 17
18. Physiological Actions
• Effects on the heart
–Nor-adrenalin & adrenalin both
increase the
• Heart rate, force of
contraction (1 receptors)
–Increase effectiveness of the
heart
• Myocardial excitability
31-May-23 Adrenal Medulla Hormones 18
22. Hormones of the Adrenal cortex
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 22
23. Adrenal Cortex
• Synthesize and secrete
– steroid hormones (corticosteroids)
• Synthesize from steroid
cholesterol
• Have nearly similar chemical formula
• Slight differences in molecular
structure give them different
functions
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 23
24. Corticosteroids
• Three groups of corticosteroids
• Mineralocorticoids
– Effect on electrolytes
• Glucocorticoids
– Exhibit important effect in
increasing blood glucose
concentration
– Also affect fat, protein metabolism
• Androgens
– Sex hormones
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 24
25. Adrenal Cortex
• Histologic
examination
– of the cortex
reveals
– three concentric
zones of cells
– that differ in the
major steroid
hormones
– they secrete
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 25
Glomerulosa
Fasciculata
Reticularis
Medulla
27. Adrenal Cortex
• Zona fasciculata
– middle layer of
cortex
• Zona reticularis
– Innermost layer of
cortex
• Zona fasciculata &
reticularis
– Secrete cortisol &
androgens
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 27
Glomerulosa
Fasciculata
Reticularis
Medulla
28. Structure of steroid hormones
• All steroids
– have the same
basic
cyclopentanoperh
ydrophenanthrene
ring structure
• Have
– 3 cyclohexyl rings
• ( A, B, C)
– One cyclopentyl
ring (D)
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 28
19
3
2
1
8
7
6
5
4
10
9
15
14
13
12
11
18
17
16
A B
C D
Cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene
30. Transport & Fate of Adrenal
Hormones
• Cortisol
– Combine with Cortisol binding
globulin (CBG)
• Transcortin
• Also can combine with
albumin
• About 94% transported in
bound form; 6% in free form
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 30
31. Transport & Fate of Adrenal
Hormones
• Aldosterone
–Combine loosely with plasma
protein
–About 50% is in free form
• Both combined and free forms
–are transported through out ECF
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 31
32. Transport & Fate of Adrenal
Hormones
• Adrenal steroids degraded in liver
• Conjugated to glucoronides or
sulfated to sulfate
– Then 25% excreted though bile
– 75% excreted through urine
• Hence diseases of liver
– Greatly affect hormone degradation
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 32
34. Functions of Glucocorticoids
• Affect metabolic systems for
utilizing
– Carbohydrates
– Proteins
– Fats
• 95% of glucocorticoid activity
– of adrenal cortex
– result from Cortisol
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 34
35. Mechanism of Action
• Multiple effects
– of glucocorticoids
– triggered by
– binding to
intracellular
receptors
– which interact with
specific regulatory
DNA sequences
• Glucocorticoids
Response Element
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 35
36. Mechanism of Action
• Induce or repress
– gene transcription
• Leads to increased
or decreased
– formation of mRNA
• Alters synthesis of
enzymes
• Alter cell
functions
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 36
37. Effects of Cortisol on carbohydrate
metabolism
• Stimulate gluconeogenesis
– liver enzymes for converting
AA into glucose
• glucose utilization by cells
– Exert anti insulin effect
• Block glucose transport in muscle
& adipose tissue
• Cortisol indirectly inhibit activity of
glycolytic enzymes
• Glucokinase, phosphofructokinase,
pyruvate kinase
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 37
38. Effects of Cortisol on Protein
Metabolism
• Glucocorticoids enhance protein
catabolism in skeletal muscle, and
other extra hepatic tissues
• Released AA are transported to
liver where are converted to glucose
• Glucocorticoids inhibit protein
synthesis
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 38
39. Effects of Cortisol on Fat
Metabolism
• Glucocorticoids are lipolytic
– Potentiate lipolytic actions of
other hormones
• GH, catecholamines, glucagon,
T3,T4
– Favour FA mobilization
• from adipose tissue to liver
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 39
40. Fat Metabolism
• FFA metabolized by liver
– -Oxidation
• formation of ketone bodies
– Inhibit glycolysis
• Fructose 1,6 diphosphatase
– Activated by FA
• Pyruvate kinase ,
phosphofructokinase
– Inhibited by FA
• Glycolysis is inhibited,
gluconeogenesis proceeds
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 40
41. Fat Metabolism
• Glucocorticoids indirectly
stimulate lipolysis by
– Blocking peripheral glucose
uptake, utilization
– Inhibit re-esterification of FA in
adipose tissue
• Inhibit the use of glucose
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 41
42. Effects of Cortisol on Fat
Metabolism
• Cortisol inhibit FA synthesis in the
liver
– This effect is not observed in adipose
tissue
• Overall effect
– Redistribution of body fat
– In total body fat
• Truncal obesity
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 42
43. Effects of Cortisol on Fat
Metabolism
• Characteristic centripetal
distribution of fat
– Accumulation of fat on central
axis of body
– Deposition of fat on the face
• Moon face
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 43
44. Effects of Cortisol on Fat Metabolism
• Deposition of fat in supra
scapular region
• Buffalo hump
– Excessive fat distribution
• Pendulous abdomen
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 44
45. Anti-inflammatory and
immunosuppressive effects
• The anti-inflammatory and
immunosuppressive effects
– of glucocorticoids are largely secondary
to their inhibition of the immune responses
• of lymphocytes, macrophages, and
fibroblasts.
• Also by stabilizing the lysosomes
– of damaged cells
– preventing the release of the mediators of
inflammation
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 45
46. anti-inflammatory and
immunosuppressive effects
• Whereas NSAIDs principally
– inhibit prostaglandin synthesis,
– corticosteroids interfere earlier
– in the inflammatory cascade
– by inhibiting PLA2 actions
– and thereby curtailing
• both the leukotriene and
prostaglandin mediated inflammatory
response
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 46
47. anti-inflammatory and
immunosuppressive effects
• increased levels of
glucocorticoids
– serve to suppress the immune
system.
• This is achieved by decreasing
– the production of lymphocytes
(especially T cells) and antibodies
– Also reduce number of eosinophils
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 47
48. Control of Secretion
• Hypothalamus
– under the influence of
higher centers
– Releases Corticotrophin
releasing hormone
(CRH)
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 48
Limbic system
CRH
Hypotha
lamus
ACTH
Adeno-
hypophysis
Plasma
cortisol
conc
Adrenal
cortex
Negative
feed back
49. Control of Secretion
• CRH acts on
anterior pituitary
– Releases ACTH
• ACTH acts on
adrenal cortex (zona
fasciculata)
– Releases cortisol
– Released into plasma
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 49
Limbic system
CRH
Hypotha
lamus
ACTH
Adeno-
hypophysis
Plasma
cortisol
conc
Adrenal
corte
Negative
feed back
50. Control of Secretion
• Conc of plasma
cortisol
– Negative feedback
inhibition
• Hypothalamus
• Anterior pituitary
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 50
Limbic system
CRH
Hypotha
lamus
ACTH
Adeno-
hypophysis
Plasma
cortisol
conc
Adrenal
corte
Negative
feed back
54. Aldosterone
• Secreted by the cells
– of the zona glomerulosa
• Functions
–Increase Na+ re-absorption by
• the kidneys, sweat glands,
salivary glands, GIT
–Increase excretion of K+, H+
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 54
55. Mechanism of Action
• Site of action
–Act on the
Principal cells
–of the late
distal
tubules&Cortic
al collecting
duct
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 55
Na+
Na+
K+
Lumen
ISF
Na+
56. Mechanism of Action
• Thus Aldosterone
– Increase the
number of Na-K
ATPase molecules
in the basal lateral
membrane
• Aldosterone increase
the exchange of
sodium and
potassium
– Na+ conservation in
ECF
– K+ is excreted
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 56
Na+
Na+
K+
Lumen
ISF
Na+
57. Control of Aldosterone Secretion
• ECF volume/Blood volume
• Arterial BP
• K+ conc in ECF leads to an
in aldosterone secretion
• Na+ conc in ECF inhibits
aldosterone secretion
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 57
58. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
• ANP inhibit production of
–Renin
–Aldosterone
• Leads to a reduction of Na+ by
the nephrons and hence
–Increased Na+ excretion in urine
31-May-23 Adrenocortical Hormones 58