A brief history of adrenal research

► The adrenal glands were first clearly described anatomically in 1563. ► In 1856, Brown-Sequard first showed that the adrenals were essential for life. ► Organic chemistry permitted the isolation, and synthesis of many steroids. ► Identifying all the steroidogenic enzymes required molecular genetic technologies. ► Despite these advances, the adrenal cortex remains a very active area of research.