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Hormones of the Adrenal Glands01:31

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Adrenal hormones play a pivotal role in maintaining the body's electrolyte balance and orchestrating responses to stress, showcasing the intricate functions of the adrenal cortex and medulla.
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The adrenal or supra-renal glands, situated above the kidneys and aligned with the twelfth rib, are paired pyramid-shaped structures crucial for the body's stress response. During stress, these glands secrete hormones vital for adaptive physiological reactions.
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Adrenal Gland Disorders01:27

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Adrenal gland disorders manifest when the production of adrenal hormones deviates from the norm, resulting in either excessive or insufficient concentrations.
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The sympathetic pathways of the collateral ganglia and adrenal medulla serve unique but interconnected roles in the sympathetic response.
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Isolation, Fixation, and Immunofluorescence Imaging of Mouse Adrenal Glands
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Development of adrenal cortex zonation.

Yewei Xing1, Antonio M Lerario1, William Rainey2

  • 1Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, 1860 BSRB, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America
|June 4, 2015
PubMed
Summary

The adult adrenal cortex has three layers: zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis. These layers develop through the differentiation of progenitor cells, a process crucial for hormone production.

Keywords:
Adrenal cortexDevelopmentSteroidogenesisZonation

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Developmental Biology
  • Adrenal Cortex Zonation and Stem Cell Differentiation

Background:

  • The human adult adrenal cortex comprises three distinct zones: zona glomerulosa (zG), zona fasciculata (zF), and zona reticularis (zR).
  • Each zone has specialized functions: zG produces mineralocorticoids, zF produces glucocorticoids, and zR produces adrenal androgens.
  • Adrenarche, the establishment of the zR and androgen production, marks the final maturation of the adrenal cortex during human puberty.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the cellular mechanisms maintaining adrenal cortex zonation and differentiation in adult humans.
  • To understand the role of progenitor cells in the continuous renewal and functional maintenance of the adrenal cortex.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the dynamic processes of cell displacement and differentiation within the adrenal cortex.
  • Focused on the behavior of peripheral Sonic hedgehog-positive progenitor cells.
  • Tracked the lineage progression of progenitor cells from the periphery towards the adrenal vein.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that adult adrenal cortex maintenance relies on the centripetal migration of progenitor cells.
  • Identified Sonic hedgehog-positive progenitor cells as the source for all three cortical zones.
  • Showed a specific differentiation pathway: progenitors first become zG cells, then transition to zF, and finally to zR cells.

Conclusions:

  • The adult adrenal cortex maintains its structure and function through a continuous process of progenitor cell differentiation.
  • This process involves a specific lineage progression, starting with zG and ending with zR cell formation.
  • Understanding this cellular dynamics is key to comprehending adrenal gland development and potential pathologies.