Adrenal Gland

The adrenal glands are the part of the body responsible for releasing three different classes of hormones. These hormones control the "fight or flight" response to stress, maintaining pregnancy, initiating and controlling sexual maturation during childhood and puberty. The adrenal glands are also an important source of sex steroids, such as estrogen and testosterone.

What Does the Adrenal Gland Do?

The adrenal glands are also called suprarenal glands. These are endocrine glands that lie like caps on top of the kidneys.

What are Adrenal Disorders?

What is an Adrenal Crisis?

What is Adrenal Insufficiency, Primary and Secondary?

Primary Adrenal Insufficiency Comorbidities

Latest Adrenal Gland News and Research

How gut bacteria regulate stress and sleep cycles

This study reveals that gut microbiota, particularly Lactobacillus species, regulate the daily rhythm of stress hormones like corticosterone, influencing stress responses and brain function at different times of the day. Disruptions in gut bacteria lead to altered stress responses and increased susceptibility to disorders like depression.

10 Nov 2024

Secure computing enables collaborative cancer research

The research project Federated Secure Computing, funded by the Stifterverband, handles cancer patient data analysis in the European health data space across national borders without sharing any actual data, utilizing the modern cryptographic method - secure multiparty computation. The European research team includes scientists from LMU Munich, Germany, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Italy, and cryptography experts from Cybernetica, Estonia.

24 Oct 2024

Defective ZNRF3 gene causes opposing brain sizes and potential tumor risk

A gene called ZNRF3, known to be involved in cancer, also messes with the mind. The human brain relies on two copies of this gene to build a right-sized brain. If one of the copies is defective, the brain will be either too small or too large - known as mirror effect -, leading to various neurological symptoms.

23 Aug 2024

Study explores interplay between bone, adrenal glands, and aging

Figuring out how the tissues in our bones, adrenal glands, muscle and fat "talk" to each other could help scientists better understand what happens to our skeletons with age, when our bones tend to lose mass and become weaker, leaving us at risk for falls and fractures.

1 Aug 2024

Headband meditation may offer pain relief and improved function after Cushing's surgery

Patients with Cushing's syndrome who are recovering from surgery and wear a headband that tracks brain activity while they meditate may have less pain and better physical functioning compared with patients not using the device, suggests a study being presented Monday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Mass.

3 Jun 2024

Female and male heart failure may require distinct treatments

A new study from the UC Davis School of Medicine found striking differences at the cellular level between male and female mice with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

30 May 2024

Researchers identify key molecular alterations from endurance exercise that could combat chronic diseases

A whole-organism molecular map of the temporal effects of endurance training in rats.

3 May 2024

Study reveals molecular changes in 19 organs due to exercise

The health benefits of exercise are well known but new research shows that the body's response to exercise is more complex and far-reaching than previously thought.

2 May 2024

New insights into adrenal gland tumor formation

Researchers from Kyushu University's Faculty of Medical Sciences report on new insights into the mechanisms of how adrenal gland tumors are formed.

2 Apr 2024

MUTYH gene mutation linked to increased risk of various solid tumors

A gene associated with colorectal cancer appears to also play a role in the development of other solid tumors, according to a study of over 350,000 patient biopsy samples conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Foundation Medicine.

25 Mar 2024

The effectiveness of statins in PCOS management

The application of statins in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

1 Feb 2024

Novel imaging approach accurately identifies sub-types of primary aldosteronism

A novel imaging approach, 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT, has been shown to accurately identify sub-types of primary aldosteronism (an adrenal gland disorder), outperforming traditional methods for diagnosis.

18 Jan 2024

OSU study pinpoints early muscle loss mechanism in acute spinal cord injury

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) patients lose body weight and muscle mass, despite being on a high-calorie diet while in the intensive care unit.

20 Dec 2023

Hormones and high blood pressure: Study reveals endocrine culprits and targeted treatments

Researchers delve into endocrine causes of hypertension (HTN), revealing key culprits like primary aldosteronism and Cushing's syndrome. The study also evaluates the efficacy of various treatments, offering valuable insights for tackling this widespread health issue.

15 Oct 2023

Is night shift work rewiring our appetite and driving weight gain?

Bristol University scientists reveal that night shift work disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, altering appetite-regulating hormones and leading to weight gain. The study, providing insights into metabolic health, may aid in developing treatments for eating disorders and obesity.

10 Oct 2023

Phase 1 clinical trial of CAR-NKT cell therapy shows promising results in neuroblastoma patients

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Cancer Center and collaborating institutions report interim results from a first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, antitumor activity and immunological characteristics of a genetically engineered natural killer T (NKT) cell immunotherapy for neuroblastoma, a childhood tumor that most commonly arises in the adrenal gland.

15 May 2023

Newly found strategy used by metastasized tumors may explain why some promising immunotherapies fail

Cancer that has spread to areas like the lungs can apply the brakes to a natural pathway that should recruit killer T cells directly to where it has metastasized, scientists report.

28 Mar 2023

New strategies to beat rare tumors of the adrenal gland

Only one in 100,000 people suffer from a pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal gland. If the tumor has already metastasized, a radioactive compound can be used to detect malignant cells that have spread to other parts of the body, and to irradiate them from the inside.

9 Feb 2023

At-home saliva test to diagnose adrenal insufficiency makes a difference to patients' health

A study into the use of an at-home test which uses saliva rather than blood to diagnose adrenal insufficiency, which has been developed by scientists at the University of Sheffield with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and tested in Sheffield endocrine patients at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is making a difference to the health of patients and could reduce time to diagnosis.

6 Jan 2023

Salk scientists find a system-wide, molecular impact of time-restricted eating in mice

Numerous studies have shown health benefits of time-restricted eating including increase in life span in laboratory studies, making practices like intermittent fasting a hot topic in the wellness industry.

3 Jan 2023