Adrenal Tumors
Dongyou Liu in Tumors and Cancers, 2017
The zona glomerulosa (outer layer, 15% of cortex volume) is composed of small clusters and short trabeculae of relatively small, well-defined cells; it is involved in the production of mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone for regulation of blood pressure and electrolyte balance. The zona fasciculata (middle layer, 80% of cortex volume) is composed of large cells with distinct membranes arranged in cords two cells wide and cytoplasm containing small lipid vacuoles; it is involved in the production of glucocorticoids such as 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, and cortisol, for regulation of metabolism and immune system suppression. The zona reticularis (inner layer, 5% of cortex volume) is composed of haphazardly arranged small cells with granular and eosinophilic cytoplasm; it is involved in the production of androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S), and androstenedione (testosterone precursor) for sexual development and functions.
Endocrinology and metabolism
Kaji Sritharan, Jonathan Rohrer, Alexandra C Rankin, Sachi Sivananthan in Essential Notes for Medical and Surgical Finals, 2021
The adrenal gland consists of the cortex and medulla. Within the cortex there are three zones: zona glomerulosa: produces mineralocorticoids – mainly aldosterone. Renin (from kidney) stimulates conversion of angiotensinogen (from liver) to angiotensin I, which is converted to angio tensin II in the lung by ACE. Angiotensin II stimulates aldosterone productionzona fasciculata: produces glucocorticoids – mainly cortisol. CRF/AVP stimulate ACTH production by the pituitary which stimulates cortisol productionzona reticularis: produces sex steroids The medulla secretes catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline) in response to various stimuli, e.g. stress, fear.
Endocrine system
Aida Lai in Essential Concepts in Anatomy and Pathology for Undergraduate Revision, 2018
Adrenal gland– lies on U. pole of kidneys– cortex (derived from mesoderm) and medulla (derived from ectoderm)– cortex has three layers: zona glomerulosa (aldosterone)zona fasciculata (androgens and cortisol)zona reticularis (oestrogen, androgens and cortisol)
Body mass index predicts aldosterone production in hypertensive postmenopausal women
Published in Clinical and Experimental Hypertension, 2020
Lijun Li, Xiaoling Hou, Xiaowen Geng, Yong Xu
Prior studies suggested that older individuals secrete less aldosterone than younger individuals (14). Nanba et al. (15) revealed that the adrenal gland in older individuals has less normal aldosterone synthase expression in the zona glomerulosa but a greater content of abnormal foci of aldosterone synthase-expressing cells. Interestingly, in this study, PAC and PRA decreased dramatically with ageing in non-obese women, whereas PAC showed no change with older age in obese women, and PRA declined. Regardless of the effect of oestrogen, PAC was significantly higher in obese postmenopausal women than in their non-obese counterparts, while basal PRA was similar between the two groups. Laffin LJ (16) reported that subcutaneous adipocytes produce aldosterone, as evidenced by fat pad biopsies from obese postmenopausal women. Several studies have suggested that adipose tissue secretes adipokines that stimulate aldosterone release from adrenal cells (17,18). The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin serves as a new direct regulator of adrenal aldosterone production, and leptin-mediated aldosterone production potentially contributes to obesity-associated hypertension, particularly in females (19,20). These clinical observations illustrated that obesity is associated with dysregulated aldosterone physiology.
Neuroprotective and tumoricidal activities of cardiac glycosides. Could oleandrin be a new weapon against stroke and glioblastoma?
Published in International Journal of Neuroscience, 2018
İlhan Elmaci, Ebru Emekli Alturfan, Salih Cengiz, Aysel Ozpinar, Meric A. Altinoz
Hamlyn et al. discovered that an endogenous inhibitor of the Na+ pump circulates in human blood plasma which level correlates with the blood pressure [8]. Following this discovery, a number of endogenous CTS as a new type of steroid hormone were defined belonging to the group of cardenolides and bufadienolides. The Na+ pump, which exists in all cells, acts as a hormone receptor for these substances [7]. Zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex are proposed to store and/or synthesize endogenous ouabain and the adrenal cortex contains more ouabain than the medulla [9]. Pregnenolone and progesterone are endogenous ouabain precursors and blockage of the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone by trilostane, an inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, inhibits ouabain synthesis [10]. Mammalian cells synthesize digoxin as well; it was isolated from human urine and identified with mass spectrometry, proton NMR, and different HPLC systems [11]. Marinobufagenin (3β,5β-dihydroxy-14,14-epoxybufadienolide), discovered first in amphibians, was determined from the urine of patients with myocardial infarction [3]. Telocinobufagin, the reduced form of marinobufagenin, was also determined as an ingredient of human blood plasma by high-resolution mass spectrometry and its plasma concentration is higher than that of marinobufagenin [4]. The compound is synthesized from cholesterol in the adrenal cortex independent of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage [12].
Crotamine-like from Southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus helleri) Venom acts on human leukemia (K-562) cell lines and produces ultrastructural changes on mice adrenal gland
Published in Ultrastructural Pathology, 2018
Elda E. Sánchez, Roschman González, Sara Lucena, Stefanie García, Héctor J. Finol, Montamas Suntravat, María E. Girón, Irma Fernández, Alexis Rodríguez-Acosta
The adrenal gland is an endocrine organ that is affected by natural toxins, which induced severe lesions.6–8 Damages produced by toxins and toxic agents in the adrenal cortex are more common in the zona fasciculata and reticularis than in the zona glomerulosa. The adrenal cortex is in charge of producing steroid hormones with a 17-carbon nucleus, after cycles of hydroxylation reactions that are developed in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Several toxic agents that influence the adrenal cortex comprise natural and synthetic steroids, amphiphilic chemicals, aliphatic compounds of short-chain and compounds that affect hydroxylation.9
Related Knowledge Centers
- Adrenal Cortex
- Mineralocorticoid
- Potassium
- Renal Capsule
- Renal Circulation
- Renin
- Aldosterone
- Kidney
- Adrenal Gland
- Renin–Angiotensin System