Editing Corticotropic cell (section)

=== Addison's Disease ===
Corticotropic cells can also be the cause of [[Addison's disease]] in some instances. Addison's disease is characterized [[adrenal insufficiency]], which is defined as the underproduction of glucocorticoids by the adrenal cortex. If the corticotropes underproduce ACTH this can result in secondary adrenal insufficiency, causing the adrenal glands to underproduce cortisol. This can be caused by tumors of the anterior pituitary or hypothalamus, inflammation, or surgery.<ref>{{ cite book |last1=Barthel |first1=Andreas |last2=Willenberg |first2=Holger S. |last3=Gruber |first3=Matthias |last4=Bornstei |first4=Stefan R. | name-list-style = vanc |title=Adrenal Insufficiency |date=2016 |work=Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric |pages=1763–1774.e4 |publisher=Elsevier | doi=10.1016/b978-0-323-18907-1.00102-5|isbn=9780323189071 }}</ref> This ultimately results in the underproduction of cortisol, which has many detrimental symptoms.

Symptoms of Addison's disease include:

* Weight loss<ref name="Levy_2014">{{Citation|last1=Levy|first1=Miles J. |last2=Howlett|first2=Trevor A. | name-list-style = vanc |title=Hypothalamic, pituitary and adrenal disorders|date=2014 |work=Clinical Biochemistry: Metabolic and Clinical Aspects|pages=349–372|publisher=Elsevier | doi=10.1016/b978-0-7020-5140-1.00018-3|isbn=9780702051401 }}</ref>
* [[Hypoglycemia]]<ref name="Levy_2014" />
* [[Hypotension]]<ref name="Levy_2014" />
* Irritability<ref name="Levy_2014" />