It also increases sodium and water absorption and potassium excretion in the intestines. Sodium
Cortisol promotes sodium absorption through the small intestine of mammals. Sodium depletion, however, does not affect cortisol levels so cortisol cannot be used to regulate serum sodium. Cortisols original purpose may have been sodium transport. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that freshwater fish use cortisol to stimulate sodium inward, while saltwater fish have a cortisol-based system for expelling excess sodium. Potassium
A sodium load augments the intense potassium excretion by cortisol. Corticosterone is comparable to cortisol in this case. For potassium to move out of the cell, cortisol moves an equal number of sodium ions into the cell. This should make pH regulation much easier (unlike the normal potassium-deficiency situation, in which two sodium ions move in for each three potassium ions that move out—closer to the deoxycorticosterone effect). Stomach and kidneys
Cortisol stimulates gastric-acid secretion. Cortisols only direct effect on the hydrogen-ion excretion of the kidneys is to stimulate the excretion of ammonium ions by deactivating the renal glutaminase enzyme. Memory
Cortisol works with adrenaline (epinephrine) to create memories of short-term emotional events; this is the proposed mechanism for storage of flash bulb memories, and may originate as a means to remember what to avoid in the future. However, long-term exposure to cortisol damages cells in the hippocampus; this damage results in impaired learning. Diurnal cycles
Diurnal cycles of cortisol levels are found in humans.
RAPADILINO syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by:
RA: radial ray defect
PA: patellar aplasia, arched or cleft palate
DI: diarrhea, dislocated joints
LI: little (short stature), limb malformation
NO: slender nose, normal intelligenceIt is more prevalent in Finland than elsewhere in the world. It has been associated with the gene RECQL4. This is also associated with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome and Baller-Gerold syndrome. References
External links

GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on Baller-Gerold Syndrome