Question
Question: A steroid hormone which regulates glucose metabolism is....
A steroid hormone which regulates glucose metabolism is.
Solution
It is the hormone released by the adrenal gland. The adrenal cortex secretes many hormones called corticoids. It secretes three main hormones including Mineralocorticoids, Glucocorticoids and Sexocorticoids. Glucocorticoids affect carbohydrate metabolism however, they also affect metabolism of proteins and fats. They also stimulate gluconeogenesis, lipolysis and proteolysis, and inhibit cellular uptake and utilisation of amino acids.
Complete answer:
Cortisol is one of the important examples of glucocorticoids. Cortisol stimulates the liver to synthesize carbohydrates from non-carbohydrates such as amino acids and glycerol. Cortisol also stimulates the degradation of proteins within cells and causes concentration of amino acids in the blood to increase. A third effect of cortisol is to stimulate the breakdown of fats in adipose tissue and release fatty acids into the blood. It stimulates the RBC production. Under stress conditions our body secretes cortisol. That is why it is also called a stress hormone.
Note:
Cortisol produces anti- inflammatory reactions and suppresses the immune response. Cortisol is also involved in maintaining the cardiovascular system as well as the kidney functions. Cortisol is used for treatment of allergy as it suppresses synthesis of antibodies by inhibiting production of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues.
Cushing syndrome caused by excess cortisol is characterized by the high blood sugar appearance of sugar in the urine, rise in plasma Na+, fall in Plasma K+, rise in blood volume, high blood pressure, etc.
Aronson disease is caused by the deficiency of glucocorticoid; its symptoms include low blood sugar, low plasma Na+ and high plasma K+ etc.