aldosterone

(noun)

a mineralocorticoid hormone, secreted by the adrenal cortex, that regulates the balance of sodium and potassium in the body

Related Terms

Examples of aldosterone in the following topics:

  • Other Hormonal Controls for Osmoregulation

    • One type of mineralocorticoid, known as aldosterone, regulates sodium levels in the blood.
    • Aldosterone also stimulates potassium secretion concurrently with sodium reabsorption.
    • Patients who have Addison's disease have a failing adrenal cortex and cannot produce aldosterone.
    • Its actions suppress the actions of aldosterone, ADH, and renin.
    • The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system increases blood pressure and volume.

  • Hormonal Regulation of the Excretory System

    • The contrasting actions of antidiruetic hormone and aldosterone work to regulate the level of water in the body.
    • Aldosterone release is stimulated by a decrease in blood sodium levels, blood volume, or blood pressure, or an increase in blood potassium levels.
    • Aldosterone production can be stimulated by low blood pressure, which triggers a sequence of chemical release .
    • When blood pressure drops, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated.
    • ADH and aldosterone increase blood pressure and volume.

  • Organs with Secondary Endocrine Functions

    • ANP also reduces the amounts of renin released by the kidneys and aldosterone released by the adrenal cortex, further preventing the retention of water.
    • Renin, released in response to decreased blood volume or pressure, is part of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that leads to the release of aldosterone.
    • Aldosterone then causes the retention of Na+ and water, raising blood volume.

  • Adrenal Glands

    • The main mineralocorticoid is aldosterone, which regulates the concentration of sodium ions in urine, sweat, pancreas, and saliva.
    • Aldosterone release from the adrenal cortex is stimulated by a decrease in blood concentrations of sodium ions, blood volume, or blood pressure, or by an increase in blood potassium levels.
    • Aldosterone is one example of a mineralcorticoid.
    • Angiotensin stimulates aldosterone secretion.
    • Aldosterone, the major mineralcorticoid, stimulates the cells of the distal convoluted tubules of the kidneys to decrease re-absorption of potassium and increase re-absorption of sodium.

  • Steroids

    • Cholesterol also plays a role in synthesizing the steroid hormones aldosterone, which is used for osmoregulation, and cortisol, which plays a role in metabolism.

  • Hormonal Regulation of Stress

    • There are two main corticosteroids: glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, and mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone.
    • The hormone aldosterone stimulates the reabsorption of water and sodium ions in the kidney, which results in increased blood pressure and volume.

  • Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

    • These hormones go one step further and trigger the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the hormone system that regulates blood pressure and water (fluid) imbalance.

  • Lipid-Derived, Amino Acid-Derived, and Peptide Hormones

    • Other steroid hormones include aldosterone and cortisol, which are released by the adrenal glands along with some other types of androgens.