Stimulated Hormone (Cortisol)

"Android 18"
(Adrenocorticotropic hormone)

Cortisol - the stress hormone.

Functions

• increases blood sugar through gluconeogenesis 
• increases protein breakdown (except in liver)
• aids in fat and carbohydrate metabolism
• supresses the immune responses
• promotes maturation of the fetal lungs
• in men, provides hormonal messages (androstenedione) to the testes to produce testosterone
• in women, it breaks down cholesterol to produce progesterone, a precursor to estrogen.  

Although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body. Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects:

• A quick burst of energy for survival reasons
• Heightened memory functions
• A burst of increased immunity
• Lower sensitivity to pain
• Helps maintain homeostasis in the body

References:
http://www.endocrinologycentral.com/endoAdrenalChartFAQ.asp
http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm

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From SUPER ENDOCRINOLOGIST

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