Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Hydrocortisone has three times the anti-inflammatory potency of corticosterone but much lower Na+ retention potency. It is an agonist at the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor. Hydrocortisone plays a role in the regulation of metabolism, electrolyte balance, water balance, and the body's stress response. Hydrocortisone production is increased during periods of stress, and it is a major effector molecule in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) stress response. Cortisol levels increase with age and are often elevated in major depressive disorder, certain forms of hypertension, and Parkinson's disease. It has been utilized in research to investigate the impact of inflammation and stress on cellular processes.