Sex steroid control of HPA outflow

Illustrative sites of sex steroid regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in animals. The exact counterparts in humans have not yet been worked out. ACTH indicates corticotropin; AVP, arginine vasopressin; BNST, bed nucleus of stria terminalis; CBG, cortisol-binding globulin; CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone; GR, glucocorticoid; MR, mineralocorticoid; PVN, paraventricular nucleus.