title: Neuroendocrinology and pathophysiology of the stress system.
abstract: The human organism is in a state of dynamic equilibrium, homeostasis. The stress system is activated when homeostasis is challenged by extrinsic or intrinsic forces, the stressors. This system, whose central component is the central nervous system (CNS) and includes corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and noradrenergic neurons, respectively, in the hypothalamus and the brain stem, has as its peripheral limbs the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic (sympathetic) nervous system. Normal development and preservation of life and species are dependent on a normally functioning stress system. Maladaptive neuroendocrine responses, i.e., dysregulation of the stress system, may lead to disturbances in growth and development, and cause psychiatric, endocrine/metabolic, and/or autoimmune diseases or vulnerability to such diseases.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Endocrinology Branch (DEB), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stratakis
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity; D008660:Metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones