Hormones of the Pancreas
2 Major Types of Tissues in the Pancreas
1. Acini - secrete digestive juices into the duodenum
2. Islets of Langerhans - secrete Insulin and Glucagon
3 Major Cell Types of the Islets
1. Beta Cells- secrete insulin make up 60% of all cells in
the islets.
2. Alpha Cells- secrete glucagon make up 25% of the
total cells in the islets Effects of Insulin Stimulation
3. Delta cells - secrete somatostatin make up 10% of all
cells in the islets 1. Increased uptake of glucose phosphorylated and
becomes as substrate for CHO metabolic functions
Insulin (protein)
2. Cell membrane becomes more permeable to AA, K+,
• Secreted in great quantity in the presence of excess PO4-
amounts of CHO
•Stores excess energy 3. Changes in the activity levels of intracellular enzymes
• Causes excess CHO to be stored in the liver and (due to phosphorylation)
muscle as glycogen (stored form of energy)
• Causes fat storage in the adipose tissue 4. Increased transcription of DNA/ formation of
• Promotes amino acid uptake by the cells inhibits the Increased translation of mRNA/ new CHONS
breakdown of proteins that are already inside the cell
Effect of Insulin on Carbohydrate Metabolism
Insulin Chemistry and Synthesis Immediately after a high CHO meal
• MW-5808 -------------
• Made up of 2 AA chains connected to each other by glucose in the blood
disulfide linkages ------------------
• Synthesized in the ER as preprohormone, cleaved in rapid secretion of insulin by pancreas
the ER to proinsulin ---------------
• Cleaved in the Golgi apparatus into insulin rapid uptake, storage and use of glucose by almost all
• Circulates unbound in the blood tissues of the body (glycogen) in between meals>>>
• Degraded by the kidneys, liver (insulinase) and --------------
muscles low blood glucose
------------
low insulin
-------------
liver glycogen converted to glucose
--------------
released to blood
How Does Insulin Cause Glucose Uptake and Storage in
the Liver?
✔Insulin causes enhanced uptake of glucose from the
blood by liver cell
1. Insulin increases the activities of the ENZ- GLYCOGEN
SYNTHASE that promotes glycogen synthesis
2. Increase plasma cholesterol and phospholipid
2. Insulin inactivates LIVER PHOSPHORYLASE - the ENZ concentrations - leading to atherosclerosis
that splits liver glycogen to glucose
3. Decreased insulin causes increased fatty acid in the
liver
What Causes the Liver to Release Glucose Back into the
Bloodstream?
1. Decreased blood glucose- decrease insulin secretion
by the pancreas
2. Lack of insulin- stops glycogen synthesis in the liver
and prevents uptake of glucose in the liver from the
blood
3. Lack of insulin activates ENZ phosphorylase
converting glycogen to glucose
Events that Cause the Liver to Release Glucose Back
into the Circulating Blood Effect of Insulin on Protein Metabolism
4. Decrease insulin causes activation of glucose Insulin promotes CHON synthesis by:
phosphatase - allows free glucose to diffuse to the
blood 1.Stimulating transport of AA into the cell
Insulin promotes conversion of excess glucose into fatty 2.Increases transcription of DNA forming increased
acids and inhibits gluconeogenesis in the liver by quantities of mRNA
decreasing the quantity and activity of the liver ENZ
required for gluconeogenesis 3. Increases translation of mRNA forming new CHONS
4. Inhibiting the catabolism of CHONS
• Brain cells are permeable to glucose even in the
absence of insulin 5. Depressing the rate of gluconeogenesis
• Use only glucose for energy
Control of Insulin Secretion
Effect of Insulin on Fat Metabolism
• Causes Increased Insulin Secretion:
1. Increased utilization of glucose by most body tissues,
decreased utilization of fat "fat sparer" 1.Increased blood glucose
2. Promotes fatty acid synthesis - excess CHO stored as 2.Increased blood FFA
fats
3. Increased blood AA
Effect of Insulin Deficiency on Fat Metabolism
4. Gastrointestinal hormones (Gastrin, Cholecystokinin,
1. Insulin deficiency causes activation of hormone Secretin, GIP)
sensitive lipase resulting in hydrolysis of triglycerides
releasing FFA and glycerol into the blood 5. Glucagon, Growth hormone, Cortisol
-FFA becomes the main energy source 6. Parasympathetic stimulation – acetylcholine
7. Insulin resistance: obesity
8. Sulfonyl urea drugs 2. Decreased the motility of the stomach,
duodenum and gall bladder
• Causes decreased Insulin secretion
3. Decreases both secretion and absorption in the GIT
1. Decreased blood glucose
Somatostatin-extends the period of time over which
2.Fasting food is assimilated into the blood
3.Somatostatin decreases the utilization of the absorbed nutrients by
the tissues - preventing exhaustion of food, making it
4.Catecholamines (alpha-agonist) available over a longer period of time
Glucagon and Its Functions
• Secreted by alpha cells when blood glucose
concentration falls
• Function opposes Insulin
-Hyperglycemic hormone
Effects on Glucose Metabolism
• 2 Major Effects:
1. Breakdown of liver glycogen (Glycogenolysis)
2. Increased gluconeogenesis in the liver
Other effects:
1. Activates adipose cell lipase - increased quantities of
FA available for energy use
2. Inhibits storage of triglycerides
Regulation of Glucagon Secretion
1. Increased blood glucose, decreases glucagon
secretion - most potent factor that controls glucagon
secretion
2. Increased blood amino acid stimulates glucagon
secretion promoting rapid conversion of AA to glucose
3. Exercise
Effects of Somatostatin
1. Depresses the secretion of Insulin and Glucagon
