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Corticosterone

Meaning

Corticosterone is a glucocorticoid hormone synthesized and released by the adrenal cortex, playing a significant role in regulating metabolism, immune response, and stress adaptation in many non-human mammals, though it is a precursor to cortisol in humans. This steroid hormone is structurally similar to cortisol and binds to both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors. Its primary function is to mobilize glucose reserves, suppress inflammation, and modulate the body’s response to psychological and physiological stressors. Elevated levels serve as a critical biomarker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation.