Dr.

Farrukh Majeed
Department of Physiology
Endocrinology Lecture- 14

Endocrinal Pancreas lect-2

 Learning objectives
At the end of this lecture student should be able to:
• Determine hormonal regulation of blood glucose
• Describe Mechanism and control of Insulin secretion.
• Discuss functions of insulin on nutrients metabolism.
• Discuss the regulation and functions of glucagon.
• Describe role of Somatostatin in controlling Glucagon
and Insulin Secretion
• Analyze pathophysiology of type 1 and 2 Diabetes
mellitus
 Glucagon : structure
• Glucagon is a large
polypeptide
• Secreted by alpha cells of
pancreas
• molecular weight of 3485
• composed of a chain of 29
amino acids.
Regulation of Glucagon Secretion
Insulin and glucagon work as a
team to maintain blood
glucose and fatty acid levels.
Glucagon –mechanism of action
Glucagon in general opposes the actions of
insulin.
• Glucagon affects many of the same metabolic
processes that insulin influences,
• but in most cases glucagon’s actions are
opposite to those of insulin.
• The major site of action of glucagon is the
liver,
 Effects on Glucose Metabolism

• The overall effects of glucagon on

carbohydrate metabolism of liver and
increase in blood glucose.
• Glucagon exerts its hyperglycaemic effects
– promoting glycogenolysis
– by decreasing glycogenesis,
– stimulating gluconeogenesis
 Effects on Fat Metabolism
• For increasing blood levels of fatty acids
– promoting lipolysis
– inhibit triglyceride synthesis
• Glucagon enhances hepatic ketone
production (ketogenesis) by conversion of
fatty acids to ketone bodies.
 Effects on Protein Metabolism
• Glucagon promotes protein catabolism in the liver,
but it does not have any significant effect on blood
amino acid levels it does not affect muscle protein
– inhibits hepatic protein synthesis
– promotes degradation of hepatic protein.
• Stimulation of gluconeogenesis further contributes to
glucagon’s catabolic effect on hepatic protein
metabolism.
 Other Effects of Glucagon

Glucagon in very high concentrations

• enhances the strength of the heart
• increases blood flow in some tissues,
especially the kidneys;
• enhances bile secretion;
• inhibits gastric acid secretion.
 Somatostatin Inhibits Glucagon and
Insulin Secretion
• Secreted from:
– The delta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete the hormone Somatostatin.
– Also from secreted in the hypothalamus and suppresses anterior pituitary
gland growth hormone secretion.
– Duodenal mucosa
• Factors related to the ingestion of food stimulate somatostatin
– increased blood glucose
– increased amino acids
– increased fatty acids,
– increased concentrations of several of the gastrointestinal
hormones in response to food intake.
• principal role of Somatostatin is to extend the
period of time over which the food nutrients
are assimilated into the blood.
• thus preventing rapid exhaustion of the food
and therefore making it available over a longer
period of time.
 Reading material
• Guyton 11th edition, chapter 78, page 961-976.
• Sherwood 9th edition, page 685- 701