title: Adrenocortical development, maintenance, and disease.
abstract: The adrenal gland controls a plethora of crucial physiological functions, and dysfunction is associated with severe morbidity. Because of the vital importance of appropriate adrenal function, the development and function of the gland have been intensively studied, and these investigations have revealed fascinating developmental origins and a remarkable remodeling and regenerative capacity in the adult. This chapter, focusing on the adrenal cortex, will describe our current understanding of the development and maintenance of the adrenal gland, which has been advanced over recent years by the use of sophisticated genetic models in the study of both normal function and disease. This work has shed light on the transcriptional networks and signaling pathways involved in development and maintenance of the gland and in its pathology; these are discussed in the light of the wealth of physiological information gathered in studies of human and rodent adrenal development and function.
authors.affiliation: Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Harshini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katugampola
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavlan
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cogger
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meimaridou
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Metherell
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guasti
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Adenoma; Adrenal; Carcinoma; Cortex; Development; Disease; SF-1; SHH; Zonation