BMS 450 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Adrenalectomy, Cortisol, Anterior Pituitary
Document Summary
Glucocorticoids allow adaptation to stress, internal and external. One clip is acth (39 a. a. ; released in pulsatile manner; half life of 15 min) 1 13 a. a. of pomc protein is -msh (skin darkening) Cortisol 15 30 mg/day (main glucocorticoid in humans) 75% bound to cortisol binding globulin; 15% albumin. Mass of adrenal cortex regulated by acth levels. High levels hyperplasia; low levels atrophy. During starvation, this spares the brain at expense of periphery. Single injection to mom can increase fetal survival. Reduces risk of brain hemorrhages or breathing failure. Prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisolone (intermediate half-lives and low mineralocorticoid activity) Alternate day therapy where possible this reduces but does not eliminate risk of adrenal suppression. Do not use cortisol or cortisone; their mineralocorticoid activity is too high. Do not use long half-life drugs due to toxicity. Dexamethasone, betamethasone, triamcinolone (long half-lives with minimal mineralocorticoid activity) Caused by excess glucocorticoid such as from acth tumor.
