What is adrenal gland disease of ferrets?
This disease is associated with overproduction of sex steroid hormones by the adrenal gland. The body contains two adrenal glands, left and right. These glands are situated in front of each kidney. Based on microscopic appearance and function, each gland has two basic parts: the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla is responsible for producing hormones like adrenaline that are responsible for the fright response. The cortex has three separate layers. The outer layer is responsible for hormones related to water and sodium balance. The inner two cortical layers are the bodys primary producers of cortisol (the natural form of cortisone), which helps with stress responses, and sex steroids like estrogens and testosterones. Adrenal gland disease is an abnormal growth of cells of the adrenal cortex. This abnormality can be diagnosed microscopically as hyperplasia (a very benign increased number of cells), adenoma (a benign tumor of cells), or an adenocarcinoma (cancer
