Adrenal cortex - wikipedia Adrenal cortex Adrenal cortex Layers of cortex. The adrenal cortex Details Precursor mesoderm Identifiers Latin cortex glandulae suprarenalis Dorlands / Elsevier c_57 / 12261690 TA A11. 5.00. 007 FMA 15632 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) Situated along the perimeter of the adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex mediates the stress response through the production of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, such as aldosterone and cortisol, respectively. It is also a secondary site of androgen synthesis. Recent data suggest that adrenocortical cells under pathological as well as under physiological conditions show neuroendocrine properties ; within the normal adrenal, this neuroendocrine differentiation seems to be restricted to cells of the zona glomerulosa and might be important for an autocrine regulation of adrenocortical function. Contents 1 Layers 2 Hormone synthesis 3 Production 3.1 Mineralocorticoids 3.2 Glucocorticoids 3.3 Androgens 4 Pathology 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Layers The adrenal cortex comprises three main zones, or layers. This anatomic zonation can be appreciated at the microscopic level, where each zone can be recognized and distinguished from one another based on structural and anatomic characteristics. The adrenal cortex exhibits functional zonation as well : by virtue of the characteristic enzymes present in each zone, the zones produce and secrete distinct hormones. Zona glomerulosa The outermost layer, the zona glomerulosa is the main site for production of aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid, by the action of the enzyme aldosterone synthase ( also known as CYP11B2 ). Aldosterone is largely responsible for the long - term regulation of blood pressure. Aldosterone 's effects are on the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct of the kidney where it causes increased reabsorption of sodium and increased excretion of both potassium ( by principal cells ) and hydrogen ions ( by intercalated cells of the collecting duct ). Sodium retention is also a response of the distal colon, and sweat glands to aldosterone receptor stimulation. Although sustained production of aldosterone requires persistent calcium entry through low - voltage activated Ca channels, isolated zona glomerulosa cells are considered nonexcitable, with recorded membrane voltages that are too hyperpolarized to permit Ca channels entry. However, mouse zona glomerulosa cells within adrenal slices spontaneously generate membrane potential oscillations of low periodicity ; this innate electrical excitability of zona glomerulosa cells provides a platform for the production of a recurrent Ca channels signal that can be controlled by angiotensin II and extracellular potassium, the 2 major regulators of aldosterone production. Angiotensin II originates from plasmatic angiotensin I after the conversion of angiotensinogen by renin produced by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney. The expression of neuron - specific proteins in the zona glomerulosa cells of human adrenocortical tissues has been predicted and reported by several authors and it was suggested that the expression of proteins like the neuronal cell adhesion molecule ( NCAM ) in the cells of the zona glomerulosa reflects the regenerative feature of these cells, which would lose NCAM immunoreactivity after moving to the zona fasciculata. However, together with other data on neuroendocrine properties of zona glomerulosa cells, NCAM expression may reflect a neuroendocrine differentiation of these cells. Zona fasciculata Situated between the glomerulosa and reticularis, the zona fasciculata is responsible for producing glucocorticoids, such as 11 - deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, and cortisol in humans. Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid under normal conditions and its actions include mobilization of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, but it does not increase under starvation conditions. Additionally, cortisol enhances the activity of other hormones including glucagon and catecholamines. The zona fasciculata secretes a basal level of cortisol but can also produce bursts of the hormone in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH ) from the anterior pituitary. Zona reticularis The inner most cortical layer, the zona reticularis produces androgens, mainly dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA ), DHEA sulfate ( DHEA - S ), and androstenedione ( the precursor to testosterone ) in humans. Hormone synthesis Adrenal steroid pathways All adrenocortical steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol. Cholesterol is transported into the adrenal gland. The steps up to this point occur in many steroid - producing tissues. Subsequent steps to generate aldosterone and cortisol, however, primarily occur in the adrenal cortex : Progesterone → ( hydroxylation at C21 ) → 11 - Deoxycorticosterone → ( two further hydroxylations at C11 and C18 ) → Aldosterone Progesterone → ( hydroxylation at C17 ) → 17 - alpha - hydroxyprogesterone → ( hydroxylation at C21 ) → 11 - Deoxycortisol → ( hydroxylation at C11 ) → Cortisol Adrenal steroid hormone synthesis steps Production The adrenal cortex produces a number of different corticosteroid hormones. Mineralocorticoids Main article : Mineralocorticoids The primary mineralocorticoid, aldosterone, is produced in the adrenocortical zona glomerulosa by the action of the enzyme aldosterone synthase ( also known as CYP11B2 ). Aldosterone is largely responsible for the long - term regulation of blood pressure. Aldosterone effects on the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct of the kidney where it causes increased reabsorption of sodium and increased excretion of both potassium ( by principal cells ) and hydrogen ions ( by intercalated cells of the collecting duct ). Sodium retention is also a response of the distal colon, and sweat glands to aldosterone receptor stimulation. Although sustained production of aldosterone requires persistent calcium entry through low - voltage activated Ca channels, isolated zona glomerulosa cells are considered nonexcitable, with recorded membrane voltages that are too hyperpolarized to permit Ca channels entry. However, mouse zona glomerulosa cells within adrenal slices spontaneously generate membrane potential oscillations of low periodicity ; this innate electrical excitability of zona glomerulosa cells provides a platform for the production of a recurrent Ca channels signal that can be controlled by angiotensin II and extracellular potassium, the 2 major regulators of aldosterone production. Angiotensin II originates from plasmatic angiotensin I after the conversion of angiotensinogen by renin produced by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney. Glucocorticoids Main article : Glucocorticoids They are produced in the zona fasciculata. The primary glucocorticoid released by the adrenal gland is cortisol in humans and corticosterone in many other animals. Its secretion is regulated by the hormone ACTH from the anterior pituitary. Upon binding to its target, cortisol enhances metabolism in several ways : It stimulates the release of amino acids from the body It stimulates lipolysis, the breakdown of fat It stimulates gluconeogenesis, the production of glucose from newly released amino acids and lipids It increases blood glucose levels in response to stress, by inhibiting glucose uptake into muscle and fat cells It strengthens cardiac muscle contractions It increases water retention It has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects Androgens Main article : Androgens They are produced in the zona reticularis. The most important androgens include : Testosterone : a hormone with a wide variety of effects, ranging from enhancing muscle mass and stimulation of cell growth to the development of the secondary sex characteristics. Dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ) : a metabolite of testosterone, and a more potent androgen than testosterone in that it binds more strongly to androgen receptors. Androstenedione ( Andro ) : an androgenic steroid produced by the testes, adrenal cortex, and ovaries. While androstenediones are converted metabolically to testosterone and other androgens, they are also the parent structure of estrone. Dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA ) : It is the primary precursor of natural estrogens. DHEA is also called dehydroisoandrosterone or dehydroandrosterone. The reticularis also produces DHEA - sulfate due to the actions of a sulfotransferase, SULT2A1. Pathology Adrenal insufficiency ( e.g. due to Addison 's disease ) Cushing 's syndrome Conn 's syndrome See also Adrenal gland References Jump up ^ `` Embryology of the adrenal gland ''. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ Anatomy Atlases - Microscopic Anatomy, plate 15.292 -- `` Adrenal Gland '' ^ Jump up to : Ehrhart - Bornstein M, Hilbers U ( 1998 ). `` Neuroendocrine properties of adrenocortical cells ''. Horm. Metab. Res. 30 ( 6 -- 7 ) : 436 -- 9. PMID 9694576. doi : 10.1055 / s - 2007 - 978911. ^ Jump up to : Whitehead, Saffron A. ; Nussey, Stephen ( 2001 ). Endocrinology : an integrated approach. Oxford : BIOS. p. 122. ISBN 1 - 85996 - 252 - 1. ^ Jump up to : Curnow KM, Tusie - Luna MT, Pascoe L, et al. ( October 1991 ). `` The product of the CYP11B2 gene is required for aldosterone biosynthesis in the human adrenal cortex ''. Mol. Endocrinol. 5 ( 10 ) : 1513 -- 22. PMID 1775135. doi : 10.1210 / mend - 5 - 10 - 1513. ^ Jump up to : Zhou M, Gomez - Sanchez CE ( July 1993 ). `` Cloning and expression of a rat cytochrome P - 450 11 beta - hydroxylase / aldosterone synthase ( CYP11B2 ) cDNA variant ''. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 194 ( 1 ) : 112 -- 7. PMID 8333830. doi : 10.1006 / bbrc. 1993.1792. ^ Jump up to : Marieb Human Anatomy & Physiology 9th edition, chapter : 16, page : 629, question number : 14 ^ Jump up to : Hu C, Rusin CG, Tan Z, Guagliardo NA, Barrett PQ ( June 2012 ). `` Zona glomerulosa cells of the mouse adrenal cortex are intrinsic electrical oscillators ''. J. Clin. Invest. 122 ( 6 ) : 2046 -- 53. PMC 3966877. PMID 22546854. doi : 10.1172 / JCI61996. ^ Jump up to : Dunn R.B. ; Kudrath W. ; Passo S.S. ; Wilson L.B. ( 2011 ). `` 10 ''. Kaplan USMLE Step 1 Physiology Lecture Notes. pp. 263 -- 289. Jump up ^ Lefebvre H, Cartier D, Duparc C, et al. ( March 2002 ). `` Characterization of serotonin ( 4 ) receptors in adrenocortical aldosterone - producing adenomas : in vivo and in vitro studies ''. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87 ( 3 ) : 1211 -- 6. PMID 11889190. doi : 10.1210 / jcem. 87.3. 8327. Jump up ^ Ye P, Mariniello B, Mantero F, Shibata H, Rainey WE ( October 2007 ). `` G - protein - coupled receptors in aldosterone - producing adenomas : a potential cause of hyperaldosteronism ''. J. Endocrinol. 195 ( 1 ) : 39 -- 48. PMID 17911395. doi : 10.1677 / JOE - 07 - 0037. Jump up ^ Haidan A, Bornstein SR, Glasow A, Uhlmann K, Lübke C, Ehrhart - Bornstein M ( February 1998 ). `` Basal steroidogenic activity of adrenocortical cells is increased 10-fold by coculture with chromaffin cells ''. Endocrinology. 139 ( 2 ) : 772 -- 80. PMID 9449652. doi : 10.1210 / endo. 139.2. 5740. Jump up ^ Rainey WE, Nakamura Y ( February 2008 ). `` Regulation of the adrenal androgen biosynthesis ''. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 108 ( 3 -- 5 ) : 281 -- 6. PMC 2699571. PMID 17945481. doi : 10.1016 / j. jsbmb. 2007.09. 015. External links Anatomy photo : 40 : 04 - 0203 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center -- `` Posterior Abdominal Wall : Blood Supply to the Suprarenal Glands '' Medical Mnemonics.com : 180 2201 412 Histology image : 14502loa -- Histology Learning System at Boston University Adrenal Cortex Medical Notes on rahulgladwin.com Anatomy of the endocrine system Pituitary gland Anterior Pars intermedia Pars tuberalis Pars distalis Acidophil cell Somatotropic cell Prolactin cell Somatomammotrophic cell Basophil cell Corticotropic cell Gonadotropic cell Thyrotropic cell Chromophobe cell Posterior Pars nervosa Median eminence Stalk Pituicyte Herring bodies Thyroid Follicular cell Parafollicular cell Parathyroid gland Chief cell Oxyphil cell Adrenal gland Cortex Zona glomerulosa Zona fasciculata Zona reticularis Medulla Chromaffin cell Gonads Testicle Leydig cell Sertoli cell Ovary Theca interna Granulosa cell Corpus luteum Islets of pancreas Alpha cell Beta cell PP cell Delta cell Epsilon cell Pineal gland Pinealocyte Corpora arenacea Other Enteroendocrine cell Paraganglia Organ of Zuckerkandl Placenta Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adrenal_cortex&oldid=797887787 '' Categories : Adrenal gland Hidden categories : Medicine infobox template using GraySubject or GrayPage Medicine infobox template using Dorlands parameter Talk Contents About Wikipedia Aragonés Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Français 한국어 Limburgs Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Türkçe Українська اردو 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 29 August 2017, at 19 : 11. 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Question: the middle layer of the adrenal cortex secretes
Answer: glucocorticoids