How does cortisol switch off its own release, and what is the hippocampus doing in that loop? · Grey Matter

Cortisol binds glucocorticoid receptors in the pituitary and the hypothalamus, where it suppresses ACTH and CRH, a classic negative feedback.

How does cortisol switch off its own release, and what is the hippocampus doing in that loop?

Cortisol binds glucocorticoid receptors in the pituitary and the hypothalamus, where it suppresses ACTH and CRH, a classic negative feedback. The hippocampus, rich in the same receptors, adds a higher level of brake: it inhibits the paraventricular nucleus through relays, and the medial prefrontal cortex does the same, while the amygdala pushes the axis up. When the brake weakens, cortisol stays high for longer after each stress, which is one reason chronic stress and hippocampal damage are studied together.