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GlossaryHypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

regulates stress response through hormone release from brain and adrenal glands

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis is a complex network involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands, which work together to regulate the body's response to stress. When you encounter stress, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), prompting the pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a key stress hormone. This system plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and can impact various bodily functions, including immune response and metabolism.

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research Sex differences in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis’ response to stress: an important role for gonadal hormones

197 citations , January 2019 in “Neuropsychopharmacology”

Male and female bodies respond differently to stress, influenced by hormones and development stages, with implications for stress-related diseases.

research The human hair follicle has established a fully functional peripheral equivalent of the hypothamalic‐pituitary‐adrenal‐axis (HPA)

9 citations , January 2005 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Human hair follicles can produce stress hormones like the body's main stress response system.

research Qiviut cortisol reflects hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity in muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus)

7 citations , May 2021 in “General and comparative endocrinology”

Muskoxen's qiviut cortisol levels indicate their stress hormone activity over the hair growth period.

research Involvement of the central hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in hair growth and melanogenesis among different mouse strains

6 citations , October 2018 in “PLoS ONE”

Stress can slow hair growth and affect skin color by impacting the body's stress response system.

research Alopecia areata – hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is a myth?

5 citations , May 2017 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

The study found no significant difference in stress hormone levels between people with alopecia areata and healthy individuals, suggesting that the disease is not caused by an overactive stress response system.

Involvement of Neurosteroids in the Control of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity in Pregnant Sheep Under Basal and Stressful Conditions

research Involvement of neurosteroids in the control of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in pregnant sheep under basal and stressful conditions

4 citations , August 2021 in “Theriogenology”

Neurosteroids play a key role in controlling the brain-adrenal gland activity in pregnant sheep, both in normal and stressful situations.

research Hyposecretion of the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in the majority of the alopecia areata patients: Is it a primitive and pathogenic perturbation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?

3 citations , January 2011 in “International journal of trichology”

Low DHEA-S levels might be linked to alopecia areata and could be a potential treatment target.

research Localized alopecia and suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in dogs following treatment with difluprednate 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion (Durezol®)

2 citations , December 2021 in “BMC veterinary research”

Long-term use of difluprednate eye drops in dogs can lead to hair loss and hormone imbalance.

research Correlation Analysis of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Hormone Levels in Hair before Stroke Onset and Mood Disorders after Stroke

1 citations , June 2024 in “Rehabilitation Medicine”

Higher cortisol and cortisone levels in hair may predict mood disorders after a stroke.

research SUN-439 Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Disruption from Unregulated Glucocorticoid Use: A Case Series

October 2025 in “Journal of the Endocrine Society”

Unregulated glucocorticoid use can disrupt hormone balance and cause serious health issues.

research Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, hair, and sebum: Stress-mediated dermatologic disasters of the pandemic era

September 2025 in “Cosmoderma”

Pandemic stress worsens hair loss and skin issues, suggesting combined mental and skin care treatments.

research The local hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in cultured human dermal papilla cells

May 2020 in “Research Square (Research Square)”

Stress hormone CRF causes hair loss and inhibits hair growth in human cells.

research The local hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in cultured human dermal papilla cells

January 2020 in “Research Square (Research Square)”

Stress hormone CRF causes hair loss and stops hair cell growth.

research Allopregnanolone (AP) induces opioid inhibition of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in pregnancy

1 citations , October 2005 in “Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes”

Allopregnanolone and opioids together reduce stress hormone responses during pregnancy.

research Human hair follicles display a functional equivalent of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis and synthesize cortisol

489 citations , June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal”

Human hair follicles can produce cortisol like the body's stress response system.

research Central 5-alpha reduction of testosterone is required for testosterone's inhibition of the hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal axis response to restraint stress in adult male rats

51 citations , July 2013 in “Brain Research”

Testosterone needs to be converted to DHT to reduce stress response in male rats.

New Effects of Caffeine on Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)-Induced Stress Along the Intrafollicular Classical Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis (CRH-R1/2, IP3-R, ACTH, MC-R2) and the Neurogenic Non-HPA Axis (Substance P, p75NTR and TrkA) in Ex Vivo Human Male Androgenetic Scalp Hair Follicles

research New effects of caffeine on corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH)‐induced stress along the intrafollicular classical hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis (CRH‐R1/2, IP₃‐R, ACTH, MC‐R2) and the neurogenic non‐HPA axis (substance P, p75^NTRand TrkA) inex vivohuman male androgenetic scalp hair follicles

12 citations , April 2020 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Caffeine may help reduce stress-induced hair loss.

research Faculty Opinions recommendation of Hair cortisol levels as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary axis activity throughout pregnancy: comparison to salivary cortisol.

April 2011 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature”

Hair cortisol is a reliable long-term stress marker during pregnancy.

research HPA axis stress reactivity and hair cortisol concentrations in recently detoxified alcoholics and healthy controls with and without childhood maltreatment

24 citations , October 2018 in “Addiction Biology”

Alcohol dependence affects stress hormone levels more than childhood maltreatment.

research Management Approaches to Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in Adolescents and Adults; Latest Therapeutic Developments

7 citations , December 2011 in “InTech eBooks”

Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid therapy effectively manage Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia symptoms but have limitations.

Relationship Between Alopecia, Chronic Stress, and Changes in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis: An Integrative Literature Review

research Relação entre alopecia, estresse crônico e alterações no eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal: uma revisão integrativa de literatura

February 2026 in “Brazilian Journal of Implantology and Health Sciences”

Chronic stress and high cortisol levels can cause hair loss by disrupting hair growth.

research VİTİLİGOLU HASTALARDA HİPOTALAMO-HİPOFİZER-ADRENAL AKSIN VE HASTALIĞIN TUTULUMU İLE SÜRESİ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

March 2015 in “DergiPark (Istanbul University)”

Basal serum cortisol levels don't help diagnose adrenal issues in vitiligo patients.

research Studies on changes in the concentration of serum adrenal androgens in pubertal twins

30 citations , March 1980 in “European Journal of Endocrinology”

Adrenal androgens are important for puberty and are influenced by genetics.

research Ovarian hormones and adrenal androgens during a woman's life span

24 citations , September 2001 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Women's ovarian hormones and adrenal androgens change throughout life, affecting hair loss and health.

research Hair loss and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

28 citations , May 2014 in “PubMed”

Higher stress levels may be linked to hair loss in rhesus macaques.

research Neuroimmunoendocrine circuitry of the ‘brain-skin connection’

293 citations , November 2005 in “Trends in Immunology”

Stress can worsen skin conditions and stop hair growth by affecting the body's stress response system.

research Neurosteroidogenesis Is Required for the Physiological Response to Stress: Role of Neurosteroid-Sensitive GABA_AReceptors

248 citations , December 2011 in “Journal of Neuroscience”

Neurosteroids are crucial for stress response, and targeting specific receptors may help treat certain disorders.

research Cortisol determination in hair and faeces from domestic cats and dogs

199 citations , July 2007 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology”

Hair cortisol can reliably indicate chronic stress in cats and dogs.

research Corticotropin releasing hormone and the skin

137 citations , January 2006 in “Frontiers in bioscience”

CRH in the skin acts like the body's stress response system, affecting cell behavior and immune activity.

Central Opioid Inhibition of Neuroendocrine Stress Responses in Pregnancy in the Rat Is Induced by the Neurosteroid Allopregnanolone

research Central Opioid Inhibition of Neuroendocrine Stress Responses in Pregnancy in the Rat Is Induced by the Neurosteroid Allopregnanolone

123 citations , May 2009 in “Journal of Neuroscience”

In late pregnancy, allopregnanolone reduces stress responses in rats by affecting brain chemicals.