The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis controls the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary [2][3]. The hypothalamus produces corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) [4][6]. CRH is carried via axons in the median eminence to the anterior pituitary, where it stimulates ACTH secretion into the bloodstream [1][3]. ACTH then acts on the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol [2][5]. Cortisol provides negative feedback at the hypothalamus and pituitary to suppress CRH and ACTH production [3][6]. This forms a tightly regulated system for physiological stress responses [1][4]. Disruption of the HPA axis signaling can lead to hypercortisolism or hypocortisolism [2][5].