Guest guest Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 Adrenal Steroids ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- The adrenal cortex is a factory for steroid hormones. In total, at least two to three dozen different steroids are synthesized and secreted from this tissue, but two classes are of particular importance: Class of Steroid Major Representative Physiologic Effects Mineralocorticoids Aldosterone Na+, K+ and water homeostasis Glucocorticoids Cortisol Glucose homeostasis and many others Additionally, the adrenal cortex produces some sex steroids, particularly androgens, a talent of considerable importance in such diseases as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Like all steroids, adrenal " corticosteroids " are synthesized from cholesterol through a series of enzyme-mediated transformations. The details of these pathways are presented elsewhere, but the major branches are easy to understand. Each of the three major pathways involves sequential processing by a group of enzymes, some of which reside in endoplasmic reticulum and others inside mitochondria. Hence, synthesis involves shuttling of the steroids between these two organelles. Synthesis of the different steroids is not uniformly distributed through the cortex. For example, the outermost group of cells (zona glomerulosa) synthesizes aldosterone, but essentially no cortisol or androgens because those cells do not express the enzyme 17-alpha- hydroxylase which is necessary for synthesis of 17- hydroxypregnenolone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone. That enzyme is however present in cells of the inner zones of the cortex (zonae fasiculata and reticularis), which are the major sites of cortisol production. Like all steroid hormones, cortisol and aldosterone bind to their respective receptors, and the resulting hormone-receptor complexes bind to a hormone response element to modulate transcription of responsive genes. Although the physiologic effects of these two steroid hormones are distinctly different, their receptors are quite similar and, most interestingly, they bind to the same consensus response element in DNA! How then is it possible to get hormone- specific responses? Follow the path to the next topic to find out at least part of the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 if you have very low cholesterol numbers that is another key to adrenal problems--the normal only thyroid person has high cholesterol where mostly adrenal person has 140 and below. another sypmtom to look into--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 really? I was told I have cholesterol #s of a teenager. Gracia > if you have very low cholesterol numbers that is another key to > adrenal problems--the normal only thyroid person has high cholesterol > where mostly adrenal person has 140 and below. another sypmtom to > look into--- > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 yes and you have both adrenal and thyroid so your numbers should be lower but if they are too low than you are not getting enough cortef-- Lipid metabolism: Increased thyroid hormone levels stimulate fat mobilization, leading to increased concentrations of fatty acids in plasma. They also enhance oxidation of fatty acids in many tissues. Finally, plasma concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides are inversely correlated with thyroid hormone levels - one diagnostic indiction of hypothyroidism is increased blood cholesterol concentration. > > really? I was told I have cholesterol #s of a teenager. > Gracia > > > > if you have very low cholesterol numbers that is another key to > > adrenal problems--the normal only thyroid person has high cholesterol > > where mostly adrenal person has 140 and below. another sypmtom to > > look into--- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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