EXPORT CITATION

Chapter-46 Steroid Hormones

BOOK TITLE: Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students

Author
1. Vasudevan DM
2. S Sreekumari
3. Vaidyanathan Kannan
ISBN
9789350250167
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/11359_46
Edition
6/e
Publishing Year
2011
Pages
6
Author Affiliations
1. Faculty of Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, (Amrita University), Kochi, Kerala, Formerly Principal, College of Medicine, Amrita, Kerala; Formerly, Dean, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Deemed University), Cochin, Kerala, E-mail: dmvasudevan@aims.amrita.edu, PG Programs and Research College of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, College of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India; Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim, India
2. Jubilee Mission Medical College, Trissur, Kerala, Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India, Government Medical College, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India; Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala, India
3. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India, Believers Church Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Chapter keywords

Abstract

The adrenal cortex has three different zones each responsible for production of different classes of steroid hormones (C21, C19 and C18). Zona glomerulosa produces the C21 steroids, mineralocorticoids. Zona fascicularis produces the glucocorticoids mainly; and adrenal androgens and estrogens to a lesser extent. Zona reticularis produces the androgens (C19) and estrogens (C18). Approximately 70% of cortisol in blood is bound to an alpha-1-globulin called cortisol binding globulin (CBG) or transcortin. Hyperactivity of adrenal cortex may be due to primary defect in adrenal gland itself (Cushing’s syndrome) or secondarily by excessive production of ACTH from pituitary (Cushing’s disease) or ectopic ACTH production by other malignant tumors. Congenital deficiency of steroid hydroxylases leading to deficient secretion of cortisol is the cause for Adrenogenital syndrome.

© 2019 Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.   |   All Rights Reserved