Adrenal Cortex Hyperfunction: Causes, Symptoms & Cushing's Syndrome

The adrenal cortex secretes many hormones, including cortisol and related corticosteroids. If the adrenal cortex secretes too much of these hormones, it's called hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex and it causes Cushing's syndrome.

Background

• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce hormones. Normally, the pituitary gland secretes ACTH to stimulate the adrenal cortex to produce the appropriate amounts of hormones.

Types of Hyperfunction

• Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex can be ACTH dependent or ACTH independent.

ACTH Dependent

• If the pituitary gland secretes too much ACTH (usually due to a pituitary tumor), it causes ACTH-dependent hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex. Another cause of ACTH-dependent hyperfunction is ectopic ACTH syndrome, which occurs when a nonpituitary tumor secretes ACTH.

ACTH Independent

• ACTH-independent hyperfunction is due to tumors on the adrenal glands and has no direct connection to the pituitary gland.

Cushing's

• The distinction between Cushing's syndrome and Cushing's disease is that Cushing's disease refers specifically to ACTH-dependent hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex while Cushing's syndrome refers to any hyperfunction.