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Glucocorticoid Feedback Inhibition

Meaning

Glucocorticoid feedback inhibition is a critical negative regulatory loop within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, where circulating glucocorticoids, primarily cortisol, act to suppress their own production. This essential homeostatic mechanism ensures that the body’s stress response is appropriately terminated once the acute threat has passed and prevents chronic overexposure to high cortisol levels. Clinical assessment of this inhibition is vital for diagnosing conditions like Cushing’s syndrome or HPA axis dysfunction related to chronic stress.