Which hormone plays a crucial role in the stress response, alongside adrenaline?

Corticotropin, also known as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), is key in the body's stress response. When an individual experiences stress, the hypothalamus reacts by releasing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). This hormone then prompts the pituitary gland to secrete ACTH, which travels to the adrenal glands and stimulates the release of cortisol. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid that helps mobilize energy, suppress non-essential bodily functions, and manage inflammation, thereby preparing the body for a fight-or-flight response in conjunction with adrenaline (epinephrine).

This interaction is essential for maintaining homeostasis during stressful events and is part of a larger hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulatory system. The other hormones listed, while important in various body functions, do not play a central role in the acute physiological stress response. Prolactin is primarily involved in lactation, insulin is critical for glucose metabolism, and thyroxine regulates metabolism but is not directly linked to immediate stress responses.