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. 2022 Mar;128:155118. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2021.155118

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© 2022 The Authors

This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

PMC Copyright notice

Fig. 8 — Glucocorticoid regulation and action in central and peripheral tissues. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is modulated centrally via negative feedback control within the pituitary and hypothalamus. Peripherally, actions are mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) within target tissues. We highlight the distinct actions of cortisol and corticosterone within this system. Peripherally, corticosterone is exported via ABCC1 leaving cortisol to drive GR activation within adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Centrally, in the pituitary (outwith the blood brain barrier), corticosterone is exported via ABCC1 and cortisol drives GR activation. Conversely, within the hypothalamus and hippocampus, ABCB1 predominates, exporting cortisol and leaving corticosterone to drive GR activation.