The nervous tissue is NOT a primary target tissue of cortisol, unlike the liver, adipose, and muscle tissues, which are directly affected by cortisol's role in catabolic metabolism during prolonged stress responses.
The primary target tissues of cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, include the liver, adipose, and muscle tissues. Cortisol stimulates the catabolism of glycogen to glucose in the liver, the breakdown of stored triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol in adipose tissue, and the catabolism of muscle proteins into amino acids.
These processes release necessary substrates into the bloodstream for ATP production and other metabolic needs. However, the nervous tissue is not a primary target of cortisol regarding these metabolic functions, which are more prominent during the body’s long-term stress response. Therefore, when considering the effect of cortisol on metabolic processes, the nervous tissue is NOT a primary target tissue of cortisol compared to the other tissues listed.
So, cortisol significantly impacts various body tissues to maintain fuel supply during prolonged stress by promoting catabolism and inhibiting tissue building. Liver tissue, adipose tissue, and muscle tissue are the primary targets of cortisol, aiming to generate glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids, respectively, which serve as body fuels. The nervous tissue, particularly the hippocampus, is sensitive to stress levels due to its glucocorticoid receptors, but it is not directly targeted by cortisol for catabolic metabolism.