HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

 PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTIONS OF GLUCOCORTICOSTEROIDS ::: PART 1

1.Carbohydrate metabolism ::

Glucocorticoids produce their main actions on carbohydrate metabolism and hence are called glucocorticoids They produce both insulin like as well as anti-insulin effects Like insulin they stimulate the formation of glycogen in liver and muscles and increase gluconeogenesis in liver specially of proteins However unlike insulin they depress glucose uptake and its oxidation by tissues Glucocorticoids help in absorption of sugar from intestine and from renal tubules Glycosuria and hyperglycemia are the major effects of glucocorticoid excess 

2.Protein Metabolism ::

Glucocorticoids increase the rate of deamination and break down of tissue proteins to amino acids Thus body proteins are lost increasing nitrogen excretion They also decrease protein synthesis by interfering with nucleic acid metabolism Thus excess of glucocorticoids result in wasting of muscles osteoporosis dissolution of lymphoid tissue and increased excretion of creatinine and uric acid in the urine 

3.Fat metabolism ::

glucocorticoids stimulate fat absorption from the intestine and mobilise fat from the depot and disintegrate to form ketone bodies in the liver Excess of cortisol may cause redistribution of fat in the body and hyperlipidemia They also depress synthesis of fat from carbohydrates 

4.Other metabolisms :;

Glucocorticoids have minimal action on mineral metabolism causing sodium and water retention and increased excretion of K+ and PO4 It stimulates BMR (basal metabolic rate )