Adrenal corticoids

Cortisone is a hormone produced by the cortex of the adrenal glands. As with other adrenal corticoid steroids, administration of cortisone leads to an increased deposition of liver glycogen. Tt can remove features of rheumatoid arthritis, but does not check the underlying disease it is used in various diseases of the eye, and is an antiallergic and anlifibroplastic agent. 

Adrenal corticoid activity which is in general known from the of pharmacological profiling of the test compounds for their glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity in single dose in vitro tests. 

Since the use of antidepressant or psychotropic medications along with implicated L-tryptophan was often reported in patients with EMS, these drugs were considered as possible risk factors.2267 Therefore, studies were conducted to determine whether drugs, such as benzodiazepines8788 or metyrapone, an inhibitor of endogenous adrenal corticoid synthesis,89 would affect in vitro 3H-tryptophan binding to rat hepatic nuclei or nuclear... 

The promotion of mammary development, lactation, and galactopoiesis requires growth hormone, ovarian estrogen (duct formation), ovarian progesterone (lobule-alveolar development), and adrenal corticoids, as well as prolactin and oxytocin. The secretion of prolactin is modified by snbstances that stimulate or block dopamine-receptor sites. Agents such as neuroleptics (chlorpromazine) may cause lactation in a nonpregnant woman. On the other hand,... 

Albers, H. E., L. Yogev, R. B. Todd, and B. D. Goldman. 1985. Adrenal corticoids in hamsters Role in circadian timing. American Journal of Physiology 248 R434-38. 

Betamethasone is an extremely potent long-acting glucocorticoid having a 20-30 folds enhanced activity in comparison to cortisol. It has been duly observed that it veiy rarely causes induction of sodium and water retention, and potassium depletion viz., co-treatment with cortisone and several other adrenal corticoids. 

Progesterone is produced only during certain phases of menstruation and during pregnancy. Excretion products in urine are the glucuronides of pregnanediol and some stereoisomers thereof as in the case of the adrenal corticoids, inactivation is accomplished by reduction of ring A. 

It was known for some time that even after the corticoids had been separated from crude extracts of the adrenal cortex, the remaining material, the so-called "amorphous fraction" still possessed considerable mineralocorticoid activity. Aldosterone (250), one of the last steroids to be isolated from this fraction, proved to be the active principle. This compound proved to be an extremely potent agent for the retention of salt, and thus water, in body fluids. An antagonist would be expected to act as a diuretic in those edematous states caused by excess sodium retention. Although aldosterone has been prepared by both total and partial synthesis, the complexity of the molecule discouraged attempts to prepare antagonists based directly on the parent compound. 

The answer is e. (Katzung, p 672. Hardman, pp 1477—1978.) Fludrocortisone is a synthetic steroid compound that exhibits profound mineralo-corticoid activity and some glucocorticoid activity Electrolyte and water metabolisms are affected by the administration of this compound. Fludrocortisone promotes the reabsorption of Na and the urinary excretion of K and hydrogen ions in the collecting duct of the nephron. The drug is indicated for mineralocorticoid replacement therapy in primary" adrenal insufficiency... 

Corticosteroids do not heal illnesses, but they are widely used in various conditions when it is necessary to utilize their anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant, and mineralo-corticoid properties. In addition, they are used in replacement therapy for patients who have adrenal insufficiency. Corticosteroids can be used in vital situations for asthma, severe allergic reactions, and transplant rejections. They are effective in noninfectious granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis, collagen vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and leukemia. Steroids are used as lotions, ointments, etc. in treating a number of dermatological and ophthalmologic diseases. 

After metyrapone administration, a patient with a disease of pituitary origin cannot achieve a compensatory increase in the urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorti-costeroids or 11-deoxysteroids. Moreover, if pituitary corticotrophin is suppressed by an autonomously secreting adrenal carcinoma, there will be no increase in response to metyrapone. On the other hand, if pituitary corticotrophin secretion is maintained, as occurs in adrenal hyperplasia, the inhibition of corticoid synthesis produced by metyrapone will stimulate corticotrophin secretion and the release of metabohtes of precursor urinary steroids, which can be measured as 17-hydroxycortico-steroids. Metyrapone is now used less frequently in the differential diagnosis of Cushing s syndrome because of the ability to measure plasma corticotrophin directly. 

Corticosterone. A natural corticoid with moderate glucocorticoid activity and some mineralocorticoid activity, possessing life-maintaining properties in adrenalectomized animals and several other activities peculiar to the adrenal cortex. Its actions closely resemble those of cortisol, except that it is not anti-inflammatory. 

Cortisone is a natural corticosteroid secreted by the adrenal cortex along with many steroidal hormones. It has mainly glucocorticoidal activity and some degree of mineralo-corticoid activity. 

Cortisone acetate and hydrocortisone are usually the corticoids of choice for replacement therapy in patients with primary adrenocortical insufficiency (such as Addison s disease), or after adrenalectomy where both glucocorticoid and mineralo-corticoid replacement is needed. In secondary adrenal insufficiency, associated with inadequate corticotrophin (ACTH) secretion, glucocorticoid replacement alone is usually adequate [62]. 

Adrenocorticoid hormones are produced in the adrenal glands. They regulate a variety of metaholic processes. The most important mineralo-corticoid is aldosterone, an aldehyde as well as a ketone, which regulates the reahsorption of sodium and chloride ions in the kidney, and increases the loss of potassium ions. Aldosterone is secreted when hlood sodium ion levels are too low to cause the kidney to retain sodium ions. If sodium levels are elevated, aldosterone is not secreted, so some sodium will he lost in the urine and water. Aldosterone also controls swelling in the tissues. 

Production Site Adrenal medulla and chromaffin cells in gut Metabolic effects increases oxygen consumption. temperature, basal metabolic rate, gluconeogenesis Pituitary effects stimulates production and release of ACTH and corticoids ... 

The two main classes of adrenal corticosteroids are properly known as glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoster-oids. The former are often known by shorter names and are commonly referred to as glucocorticoids , corticosteroids , corticoids , or even simply steroids the latter are often referred to as mineralocorticoids . Here we shall use the terms glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids . When referring to both we shall use the term corticosteroids . 

Withdrawal symptoms disappear if the glucocorticoid is resumed, but as a rule they will in any case vanish spontaneously within a few days. More serious consequences can ensue, however, in certain types of cases and if adrenal cortical atrophy is severe. In patients treated with corticoids for the nephrotic syndrome and apparently cured, the syndrome is particularly likely to relapse on withdrawal of therapy if the adrenal cortex is atrophic (SEDA-3,305). In some cases, acute adrenocortical insufficiency after glucocorticoid treatment has actually proved fatal. It is advisable to withdraw long-term glucocorticoid therapy gradually so that the cortex has sufficient opportunity to recover. Table 5 lists methods of... 

Mineralocorticoids are involved in controlling electtolyte and fluid levels.9,44 The primary mineralo-corticoid produced by the adrenal cortex is aldosterone. Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of sodium from the renal tubules. By increasing sodium reabsorption, aldosterone facilitates the reabsorption of water. Aldosterone also inhibits the renal reabsorption of potassium, thus increasing potassium excretion. Mineralocorticoid release is regulated by fluid and electrolyte levels in the body and by other hormones, such as the renin-angiotensin system. 

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