Question

1. Courtney Isol (Court for short) has been experiencing weight gain, high blood pressure, and is frequently sick. Her stress levels have also been through the roof lately as well. When she visited her doctor, blood tests were run. A hormone called cortisol was especially high in her blood, but thankfully still low enough that tumors were ruled out. How does Court’s high levels of stress lead to high cortisol levels (describe this pathway) (3 pts)? Why has Court been frequently sick (1 pts), experiencing high blood pressure (2 pts), and experiencing weight gain (2 pt)? Since Court doesn’t have a pituitary tumor (it’s not a toomah!), cortisol is therefore exhibiting negative feedback on this pathway. So why are her cortisol levels remaining high (1 pts)? 1 pts for essay formatting, grammar, spelling.

Answer 1

1. Stress to high cortisol level

• Increased stressors will cause the hypothalamus to be activated and releases Corticotropin releasing hormone
• This inturns activates the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropin hormone
• The adrenocorticotropin hormone eventually activates adrenal gland with the release of cortisol in the blood.

2. She is feeling sick due to the catabolic response of the increased level of cortisol.

3.

• During the time of stress, hormone level in the body increases.
• This causes the heart rate to be increased and narrowing of the blood vessels resulting in high blood pressure

4.

• Increased level of Cortisol causes the abdominal fat to make specific chemical changes that can lead to lower metabolism.
• There will be increased craving for sweets during this time possibly leading to weight gain particularly around the stomach, upper back and face.

5.

• Cortisol has negative feedback action on both the hypothalamic release of CRH and the pituitary release of ACTH.
• When the circulating cortisol concentration is low, CRH and ACTH will increase, it stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.