corticosterone

Corticosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex in vertebrates. It is vital for survival and plays a role in protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Corticosterone, along with cortisol, is classified as a glucocorticoid, which promotes glycogen deposition in the liver and the breakdown of body proteins. In many species, including humans, cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid, but in most rodents, corticosterone fulfills this role.123

The adrenal cortex also produces mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone, which stimulate the retention of sodium in the body's extracellular fluids. While cortisol and corticosterone primarily function as glucocorticoids, they also have a minor role in mineral regulation. The secretion of glucocorticoids is highly responsive to stress and injury, aiding in metabolic adaptation. A deficiency in adrenal cortex hormones can lead to Addison disease, a condition now treatable with synthetic adrenal steroids.13