Which two hormones promote gluconeogenesis and increase blood sugar levels?

Gluconeogenesis is the metabolic process by which glucose is synthesized from non-carbohydrate precursors, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining blood sugar levels, especially during fasting or intense exercise. The two hormones that significantly promote gluconeogenesis and increase blood sugar levels are growth hormone and cortisol.

Growth hormone stimulates gluconeogenesis by promoting the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue, leading to a decreased utilization of glucose by the cells, which in turn triggers the liver to produce more glucose through gluconeogenesis. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, also plays a vital role in this process by enhancing the enzyme activity responsible for gluconeogenesis in the liver. It increases the availability of substrates necessary for glucose production by allowing amino acids from protein breakdown and glycerol from fat metabolism to be utilized.

In contrast, the other options do not adequately promote gluconeogenesis. Insulin is known as a hypoglycemic hormone that lowers blood sugar levels by facilitating cellular glucose uptake. Prolactin and estrogen primarily have roles in reproductive processes and do not directly influence gluconeogenesis. Thyroid hormones and epinephrine do have effects on metabolism, but their primary roles do not center around enhancing gluconeogenesis in the same direct