PHYSIOPATHOLOGY: ADRENAL GLANDS

Welcome back to my blog.

Today I wanted to take a brief look into the problems caused by this glands.
They are located on the upper part of the kidneys, as you can see in the picture. The end product of these glands is CORTISOL, the natural hormone of stress.

Cosrtisul is used for the catabolism of fats and proteins in order to get energy. This is very important in animals that fly or for fights. In normal activity, it increases the gluconeogenesis.

1. HYPERCORTISOLISM/ HYPERADENOCORTISISM/ CUSHING SYNDROME:

(This last one, is the endogenous form of the disease, an adquired form.)

There is a high activity of cortisol. But, why?
The causes are tumors in the pituitary gland (adenoma, 80% cases in dogs) or in the adrenal glands. Cells don't obey the same feedbackloop, so there is an increment of size and number without any control.

If the tumor is in the pituitary gland, there is an excesive production of ACTH, which means that the adrenal glans will produce a high amount of cortisol.

If the tumor is in the adrenal glands, there is a high production of Cortisol and the ACTH levels in blood are low, because the pituitary gland doesn't need to produce anymore.

Consequences of having a high concentration of cortisol:

• high levels of cortisol increases Glucose levels in blood (hyperglucemia) and in urine (Glucosuria).
• Glucosuria ends in Poliuria and Polidipsia, which is something like a dyabetes syndrome.
• Liver and lipids are altered.
• There is a change in the blood picture:
  • Neutrophilia and Leukopenia (stress leukogram)
  • Endocrine alopecia due to a lack of proteins. It is bilateral and it doesn't itch.
  • Abdominal enlargement due to a change in the methabolism of lipids. There is a fat redistribution.
  • There is a high level of Glucose in blood, but it doesn't enter into the cells, so we find weak muscles, like a fluffy tummy.
  • Higher levels in blood of HDL, ADL and cholesterol.

(typical image of a dog with cushing syndrome)

2. HYPOCORTISOLISM/ HYPOADRENOCOSTICISM:

It isn´t very frequent in vet.
It's causes are problems in the pituitary gland (low production of ACTH) or in the adrenal glands (low production of cortisol). But what can cause this low production?

It can happen that the gland is compressed, and it's function it's reduced. Also, the pacient may have an infection that ends up in an inflamation of the tissue. Some cells are destroyed and so, there is no hormone production. No hormones=no functions.

We also find hypoglucemia and poliuria.

This disease is treated with corticosteroids.

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Hope you guys found this information interesting.

I wanted to thank @yokossita for her Steemit Codes Guide

And I invite you guys to take a look to my Blog if you find science interesting. I am a vet student and I love what I study, so I invite all those science lovers to share their thoughts and wisdom.
Clau's Blog

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