What does the adrenal gland do, anyway?
[This section was contributed by Bob Church.] Technically, adrenal means “near the kidney,” so it could be used to describe a number of things. In practice, adrenal usually refers to a gland that is found on the head end of the kidneys. The adrenal gland is composed of two parts, the internal medulla and the outer cortex. These two parts have different functions, and are actually anatomically distinct. The adrenal cortex produces three types of hormones: glucocorticoids (which increase blood glucose levels), mineralcorticoids (which help regulate electrolyte levels), and androgens (which have a masculating effect and increase muscle mass); while the adrenal medulla produces adrenaline and noradrenaline. Glucocorticoids (such as hydrocortisone, cortisone and cortisterone) cause the liver to increase glycogen levels, they raise blood sugar levels, and they also act as anti-inflammatory agents. It is easy to understand why some ferrets with adrenal tumors have a difficult time maintaining
