Cortisol refers to a corticosteroid hormone synthesized in the adrenal cortex region of the adrenal gland. Referred to as 'stress hormone', Cortisol plays a crucial role in assuaging stress and and anxiety-related problems of the human mind. Secretion of this hormone directly controls key physiological functions such as blood sugar, blood pressure and so on. From a clinical perspective, the role of Cortisol can be justified on the basis of having an immunosuppressive function.
In pharmacology, the drug form of Cortisol is known as hydrocortisone. This synthetic medicine has widespread usage in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases. Hydrocortisone is also used as an alternative medicine for various Cortisol products.
Physiology of Cortisol
The quantity of Cortisol in the serum fluctuates during the course of a day. On a customary basis, blood is replete with this hormone early in the morning and as time passes on, the level of Cortisol in the blood begins to come down. The physiological explanation behind such a phenomenon has been made thoroughly comprehensible by experts. It's been suggested that information on daylight/darkness cycle is carried from the retina to the coupled suprachiasmatic nuclei inside the hypothalamus. The secretion of hormone is related to pregnancy with regards to the time of initiation.
Effects of Cortisol
Under normal circumstances, Cortisol restitutes homeostasis after stress. Note that normal endogenous functions of Cortisol lay the foundation for the physiological outcomes of recurring stress issues. In such cases, Cortisol secretion tends to sustain for a longer period of time. The basic purpose of Cortisol secretion is to reciprocally circulate the immune system to pose some resistance against diarrhea caused by an excessive loss of potassium.
Cortisol also plays the role of physical adversary to insulin by hindering the synthesis of glycogen. This process involves breakdown of protein molecules and lipids in the blood. This hormone also lifts up the level of amino acids in the serum. This objective is achieved by the suppression of collagen production, and thereby reducing the quantity of amino acids.
In case of mammals, Cortisol curbs sodium loss from small intestine. You may take note of the fact that sodium reduction has got nothing to do with the normal secretion of this hormone.
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It only acts as a catalyst to keep a check on sodium loss.
Diseases
Cushing's syndrome is caused when the amount of Cortisol in blood attains an increased level. Addison's disease strikes when the the adrenal glands fails to formulate adequate amount of Cortisol.
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