![]() ![]() Functional Anatomy of the Adrenal Gland The adrenal cortex has 3 histologically distinct zones the that produce mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and androgens The medulla is a source of catecholamines Few locations for androgen production in females Synthesis of Adrenal Cortical Hormones Adrenal cortical hormones are synthesized from cholesterol Rate-limiting step for hormone synthesis is the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone Presence of specific enzymes determine which hormone is synthesized in the different areas within the adrenal cortex Steroid Synthesis Cholesterol for steroid synthesis comes from LDL taken up via LDL receptors on cortical cells or synthesized de novo from acetate Cholesterol esters are hydrolyzed to free cholesterol which enter mitochondria and are converted to pregnenolone Pregnenolone molecules leave mitochondria and enter cytoplasm where subsequent reactions take place CEH=cholesterol ester hydrolase ACTH stimulates CEH (which will mostly facilitate the fasciculata and reticularis) ![]()
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