PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE OF THE HYPOTHALAMO-PITUPHYSAL SYSTEM IN ADAPTATION TO STRESS
Keywords:
stress, hypothalamo-pituitary system, HPA axis, cortisol, ACTH, adaptation, glucocorticoids, negative feedbackAbstract
Stress is a nonspecific adaptive response of the organism to internal and external stimuli, in which the hypothalamo–pituitary system plays a central regulatory role. This article examines the physiological role of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in stress adaptation, including its hormonal mechanisms and negative feedback regulation. Activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and glucocorticoid secretion under stress conditions contributes to metabolic, immune, and neural adaptations. The article also discusses the dysfunction of the hypothalamo–pituitary system under chronic stress and its pathological consequences.
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