Light and Ultrastructure of Adrenal Gland of Bat

A primary function of the adrenal gland is to protect the organism against acute and chronic stress. In acute stress, catecholeamines of the medulla mobilize glucose and fatty acids for energy and prepare the heart, lungs and muscles for action. Glucocorticoids protect against over reactions of the body's responses to stress and, in the more chronic stress of food and fluid deprivation, stimulate gluconeogenesis to maintain the supply of glucose. Stress as well as hyper- and hypofunction of the adrenal gland is known to suppress reproduction in mammals.