Final answer:
In a pheochromocytoma, the levels of adrenal androgens are not characteristically altered. This tumor primarily affects catecholamines such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are part of the fight-or-flight response, while adrenal androgens are associated with sexual development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns which hormones are not altered in a condition known as pheochromocytoma, which is a tumor of the adrenal gland that leads to excessive production of certain hormones. Specifically, the hormones in question are cortisol, aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and adrenal androgens.
Pheochromocytomas primarily affect the production of catecholamines, which include epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). These hormones are synthesized from tyrosine and stored in the chromaffin granules of the adrenal medulla.
When released, they play a central role in the body's fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, cardiac contractions, and blood glucose levels, among other physiological changes. The levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine can become excessively high in the presence of a pheochromocytoma.
In contrast, adrenal androgens, which are also produced by the adrenal cortex, have a different role in the body, primarily affecting sexual development and characteristics. They do not have a direct role in the acute stress response and their levels are not characteristically altered by pheochromocytomas. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is E. Adrenal androgens.