Glucocorticoid hormones

In response to stimulation by ACTH, produces <a title="Glucocorticoid" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucocorticoid">glucocorticoid</a> hormones, mainly <a title="Cortisol" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortisol">cortisol</a> . Glucocorticoids in turn act back on the hypothalamus and pituitary (to suppress CRH and ACTH production) in a <a title="Negative feedback" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_feedback">negative feedback</a> cycle.

ACTH is transported by the <a title="Blood" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood">blood</a> to the <a title="Adrenal cortex" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_cortex">adrenal cortex</a> of the <a title="Adrenal gland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_gland">adrenal gland</a>, where it rapidly stimulates biosynthesis of <a title="Corticosteroid" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticosteroid">corticosteroids</a> such as cortisol from <a title="Cholesterol" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholesterol">cholesterol</a>. Cortisol is a major stress hormone and has effects on many tissues in the body, including the brain. In the brain, cortisol acts on two types of receptor – <a title="Mineralocorticoid receptor" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineralocorticoid_receptor">mineralocorticoid receptors</a> and glucocorticoid receptors, and these are expressed by many different types of neurons. One important target of glucocorticoids is the <a title="Hypothalamus" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus">hypothalamus</a>, which is a major controlling centre of the HPA axis.

Glucocorticoids modulate neurotransmitter-induced glycogen metabolism