In the acute phase, stroke as a stressor initiates a hyperactive sequence of the HPA axis: hypophysiotropic neurons secrete more corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), the pituitary releases more adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and then ACTH induces the adrenal cortex to synthesize and secrete more glucocorticoids (GCs), including cortisol (Fig. 2) [98]. The gene discussed is POMC; the disease is stroke disorder.