61) GLUCOCORTICOIDS

[Editor]

a) include cortisol
b) include aldosterone
c) increase total body water
d) are required for hepatic glycogen formation
e) contain 17 carbon atoms

[Editor]

TFFTF

The adrenal cortex secretes 3 main groups of hormones: mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol) and the adrenal androgens. The effects of glucocorticoids include catabolic, cardiovascular, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Catabolic- protein catabolism, gluconeogenesis, hepatic glycogenesis, mobilisation of fat stores. Cortisol increases the supply of glucose to the body tissues, and prevents hypoglycaemia.
CV effects- essential for the normal CV response to stress. In the absence of glucocorticoids, the increase sympathetic activity, which results in vascular smooth muscle constriction, becomes unresponsive.
Anti-inflammatory effects- Cortisol is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.
Glucocorticoids have mild aldosterone-like activity, but they do not increase total body water. They allow the excretion of a water load, a deficiency leading to the risk of water intoxication.
Glucocorticoids are C21 steroids (C19 are androgens, C18 are oestrogens, C21 are also mineralocorticoids and progesterone).

[namita]

do they cause glycogenesis or glycogenolysis?

[mark]

cortisol

Glucocorticoid whose function is to maintain a steady glucose supply to the peripheral tissues.Does this by mobilisation of glucose store such as glycogen,liposis ect.

As such it causes glycogenolysis, and general gluconeogenesis.

Glyogenesis is a seperate pathway involving the intracellular phosphorylation of glucose ( and intracellular trapping) prior to glycogen formation. Would think it hightly unlikely that cortisol or other glucocorticoids would be involved in these steps.
ref:

http://www.waichung.demon.co.uk/webanim/CortWeb.htm