Counterregulatory hormone explained

A counterregulatory hormone is a hormone that opposes the action of another.

Glucose Counterregulation

The action of insulin is counterregulated by glucagon, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), cortisol, and growth hormone. These counterregulatory hormones—the term is usually used in the plural—raise the level of glucose in the blood by promoting glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, ketogenesis, and other catabolic processes.^[1] In healthy people, counterregulatory hormones constitute a principal defense against hypoglycemia, and levels are expected to rise as the glucose falls.

As an example, the exercise-induced reduction in blood glucose is counterregulated by increases in levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormone. The rise in blood concentrations of these counterregulatory hormones is dependent upon both exercise intensity and duration, and is proportional to the rate of glucose uptake by the contracting skeletal muscle.

Blood Pressure Counterregulation

Similarly, the natriuretic peptides counterregulate against renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone which elevate blood pressure.^[2]

Reproductive Counterregulation

In the reproductive system, inhibins and follistatin counterregulate activins, to control follicle-stimulating hormone and so the release of gonads.^[3] Inhibins and activins also regulate bone mass.^[4]

Further reading

• Sweet talk in the brain: glucosensing, neural networks, and hypoglycemic counterregulation. Watts AG, Donovan CM . Front Neuroendocrinol. January 2010. 31. 1. 32–43. 19836412. 2813965. 10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.10.006.
• Brain glucose sensing, counterregulation, and energy homeostasis.. Marty N, Dallaporta M, Thorens B . Physiology. August 2007. 22. 4. 241–51. 10.1152/physiol.00010.2007. 17699877.
• Dopamine and angiotensin as renal counterregulatory systems controlling sodium balance.. Gildea JJ. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension. January 2009. 18. 1. 28–32. 19077686. 2847451. 10.1097/MNH.0b013e32831a9e0b.
• The ANG-(1-7)/ACE2/mas axis in the regulation of nephron function.. Ferrario CM, Varagic J . Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. June 2010. 298. 6. F1297–305. 20375118. 2886811. 10.1152/ajprenal.00110.2010.

Notes and References

1. 10.1152/ajpregu.00531.2011. 22071156 . The physiology and pathophysiology of the neural control of the counterregulatory response. AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 302. 2. R215-23. 2011. Beall. C.. Ashford. M. L.. McCrimmon. R. J..
2. Natriuretic peptides: Physiology, therapeutic potential, and risk stratification in ischemic heart disease . Stein BC, Levin RI . Am Heart J . 135 . 5 . 914–23 . May 1998 . 9588425 . 10.1016/s0002-8703(98)70054-7. free .
3. Semin Reprod Med . August 2004 . 22 . 3 . 209–17 . Inhibins, activins, and follistatin in the aging female and male . Hurwitz JM, Santoro N . 15319823 . 10.1055/s-2004-831896.
4. Mol Cell Endocrinol . 2009-10-30 . 310 . 1–2 . 11–20 . Regulation of osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis by the other reproductive hormones, Activin and Inhibin . Nicks KM, Perrien DS, Akel NS, Suva LJ, Gaddy D . 19615428 . 2951729 . 10.1016/j.mce.2009.07.001.