A River of Hormones

A River of Hormones

Emily Goodchild

This fluorescent image turns the adrenal gland into a glowing river landscape. Blue marks the nuclei of every cell, while red highlights the gland’s centre—the medulla—where adrenaline surges into the bloodstream. Yellow traces cortisol production, the body’s stress hormone, produced nearer the riverbanks. At the outer edge lies the source of aldosterone, which regulates blood pressure. To the west, a tumour glows with dappled yellow, revealing its mixed identity: producing excess aldosterone—and a hint of cortisol—disrupting the body’s balance and causing uncontrolled high  blood pressure.