HealthAugust 4, 2026
corticosterone
KOR-tih-ko-STEER-ohn
Definition
A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that serves as the primary stress hormone in rodents.
Etymology
Derived from 'cortex' (referring to the adrenal cortex) plus 'sterone' (indicating it is a steroid hormone). It was first identified in the mid-20th century as a critical regulator of metabolic and stress responses.
In the news
In this study, the researchers found that corticosterone acts as a key messenger that triggers brain immune cells in female mice to rewire neural connections after anesthesia.
New study details how ketamine alters neural networks differently in males and females
Read the full article ↗PsyPost