A
ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone
ANS = autonomic nervous system
APP = acute phase protein
-APP = negative acute phase protein
+APP = positive acute phase protein
AR = apparent recovery
AZF = adrenal zona fasciculate
C
cAMP = 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate
CAR = cortisol awakening response
CBG = corticosteroid binding globulin
CCα = decision limit
CCβ = detection capability
CNS = central nervous system
CORT = cortisol
CR = corticosteroid receptor
CRH* = corticotropin releasing hormone (*= both CRF and CRH are used)
CRM = certified reference material
E
EDC = endocrine disruptor chemical
EIA = enzyme immunoassay
ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ESI+ = electrospray ionization positive mode
ESI- = electrospray ionization negative mode
ESRF = European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
G
GC = glucocorticoid
GFP = green fluorescent protein
gGR = genomic glucocorticoid receptor
gMR = genomic mineralocorticoid receptor
GnRH = gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
GR = glucocorticoid receptor
GRE = glucocorticoid response element
H
HA = hydroxyapatite
hbc = hours before challenge
hGR = human glucocorticoid receptor
hMR = human mineralocorticoid receptor
hpc = hours post challenge
HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
HPI = hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal
HPLC = high-performance liquid chromatography
3α-HSD = 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
3β-HSD = 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
11β-HSD = 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
Hsp = heat shock protein
I
IA = immunoassay
IFN = interferon
IL = interleucin
IL-1 = interleucin-1
K
k = coverage factor
K factor = Fulton’s condition factor
L
L = standard length
LC = liquid chromatography
LC-MS/MS = liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
LLE = liquid-liquid extraction
LOD = limit of detection
LOQ = limit of quantitation
M
MC = mineralocorticoid
MC2R = melanocortin 2 receptor
ME = matrix effects
mGR = membrane glucocorticoid receptor
MIP = molecularly imprinted polymer
mMR = membrane mineralocorticoid receptor
MNE = mean normalized expression
mPVN = magnocellular subdivision of PVN
MR = mineralocorticoid receptor
MRM = multiple-reaction monitoring
mRNA = messenger RNA
MS = mass spectrometry
MS-222 = methane tricaïne sulfonate
MS/MS = tandem mass spectrometry
m/z = mass to charge
N
Na+/K+-ATPase = sodium/potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase
NADP+/NADPH = nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
NCP = non-collagenous protein
NF-κB = nuclear factor-κB
nGRE = negative GRE
ns = not specified
P
P = proximal
PBS = phosphate buffered saline
POMC = proopiomelanocortin
PP = protein phosphatase
pPVN = parvicellular division of PVN
pre-mRNA = precursor mRNA
PTM = post-translational modification
PVN = paraventricular nucleus
Q
qPCR = real-time polymerase chain reaction
R
R2 = correlation coefficient
RAS = renin-angiotensin system
RIA = radio immunoassay
RNA = ribonucleic acid
RT = retention time
S
SCN = suprachiasmatic nucleus
S/N = signal to noise
SNS = sympathetic nervous system
SPE = solid phase extraction
StAR = steroidogenic acute regulatory protein
T
TBP = TATA-binding protein
THE = 5β-tetrahydrocortisone
THF = 5β-tetrahydrocortisol
THS = tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol
TNFα = tumor necrosis factor α
U
U = expanded measurement uncertainty
uc = combined measurement uncertainty
UPLC-MS/MS = ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
UV = ultraviolet
V
VC = variation coefficient
W
WBC = whole body cortisol
X
XAS = X-ray absorption spectroscopy
XRF = X-ray fluorescence