What is the Adrenal Cortex?

Adrenocortical hormones (referred to as corticosteroids) are a type of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormones secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, and are of great significance for maintaining life. According to their physiological characteristics, they can be divided into mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. The former mainly regulates the body's water and salt metabolism and maintains the electrolyte balance; the latter is mainly related to sugar, fat, protein metabolism and growth and development. Mineralocorticoids have basically no clinical value, and glucocorticoids have extremely important clinical value. Clinically used drugs are hydrocortisone, dexamethasone acetate, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, deoxycorticosterone acetate, and triamcinolone. The adrenal cortex is divided into three zones from the outside to the inside: the globular zone, the bundle zone, and the reticular zone. They secrete mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and sex hormones.

Basic Information

Chinese name

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Foreign name

adreno cortico hormones

Nature

hormone

Function

Treating critically ill patients

Adrenocortical hormone action mechanism

Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, increase -receptor excitability, and improve capillary permeability.

1. Anti-inflammatory effect: fight against inflammation caused by various reasons such as physical, chemical, biological, immune, etc .; improve the symptoms of redness, swelling, heat and pain. In the late stage of inflammation, it can inhibit the proliferation of capillaries and fibroblasts and reduce the sequelae.

2. Immunosuppressive effect: Inhibit the phagocytosis and processing of antigen by macrophages, and reduce the number of lymphocytes in circulating blood.

3. Anti-shock: dilate spasm and constricted blood vessels and strengthen myocardial contractility; reduce the sensitivity of blood vessels to certain constricted vasoactive substances, restore microcirculation hemodynamics to normal, improve shock status, and stabilize lysosomal membranes.

4. Other functions: blood and hematopoietic system, glucocorticoid can stimulate bone marrow hematopoietic function; central nervous system, increase excitability of central nervous system; digestive system, increase secretion of gastric acid and pepsin.

Application of adrenal corticosteroids

1. Alternative therapy: acute and chronic adrenal insufficiency.

2. Autoimmune diseases: rheumatic fever, rheumatic myocarditis, and bronchial asthma.

3. Anti-shock therapy: septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, etc.

4. Certain blood diseases: leukemia, aplastic anemia, etc.

5. Topical application: contact dermatitis, eczema, etc.

6. Others: It can quickly relieve bronchospasm, eliminate the inflammatory response of the respiratory tract, and has a good effect on the acute attack, persistent state and refractory attack of asthma.

Adrenal corticosteroid adverse reactions

The side effect of adrenocortical hormone is to promote protein breakdown and inhibit protein synthesis, resulting in negative nitrogen balance; it can increase calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and at the same time have an anti-vitamin D effect, and even affect calcium absorption; long-term application can also inhibit the vitality of bone cells Disturbance of bone formation can cause osteoporosis and even fracture. In addition, adrenocortical hormones have an anti-growth effect and can inhibit bone growth and protein synthesis. Cushing's syndrome can occur when long-term application of a large amount of adrenal corticosteroids will affect the growth and development of children, resulting in shortness.

Adrenal corticosteroids considerations

Adrenal cortical atrophy or dysfunction should be used with caution. Do not stop the medicine suddenly or reduce it too fast during the course of treatment, you should gradually reduce it.

(Note: The above content is only for introduction, the drug use must be carried out by a regular hospital under the guidance of a doctor.)