Counterregulatory hormone

A counterregulatory hormone is a hormone that opposes the action of another.

The action of insulin is counterregulated by glucagon, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), cortisol, and growth hormone. These counterregulatory hormones—the term is usually used in the plural—raise the level of glucose in the blood by promoting glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, ketogenesis, and other catabolic processes.[1] In healthy people, counterregulatory hormones constitute a principal defense against hypoglycemia, and levels are expected to rise as the glucose falls.

Similarly, the natriuretic peptides counterregulate against renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone which elevate blood pressure.[2]

In the reproductive system, inhibins and follistatin counterregulate activins, to control follicle-stimulating hormone and so the release of gonads.[3] Inhibins and activins also regulate bone mass.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Beall, C.; Ashford, M. L.; McCrimmon, R. J. (2011). "The physiology and pathophysiology of the neural control of the counterregulatory response". AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 302 (2): R215. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00531.2011. PMID 22071156.
  2. ↑ Stein BC, Levin RI (May 1998). "Natriuretic peptides: Physiology, therapeutic potential, and risk stratification in ischemic heart disease". Am Heart J 135 (5): 914–23. doi:10.1016/s0002-8703(98)70054-7. PMID 9588425.
  3. ↑ Hurwitz JM, Santoro N (August 2004). "Inhibins, activins, and follistatin in the aging female and male". Semin Reprod Med. 22 (3): 209–17. doi:10.1055/s-2004-831896. PMID 15319823.
  4. ↑ Nicks KM, Perrien DS, Akel NS, Suva LJ, Gaddy D (2009-10-30). "Regulation of osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis by the other reproductive hormones, Activin and Inhibin". Mol Cell Endocrinol. 310 (1–2): 11–20. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2009.07.001. PMC 2951729. PMID 19615428.

Further reading

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