Endocrine Pancreas Flashcards
Describe the organization of the islets of Langerhans in terms of cell types and
hormones secreted.
LO1
Hormones of endocrine cells of pancreas
- insulin
- glucagon
- somatostatin
Fxn: lipid, CHO, and AA metabolism
Clusters= islets of Langerhans
- 1-2% of pancreatic mass
- 2500 cells/islet
- innervated by adrenergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic neurons
B cells of pancreas
- %
- secretion
60-65% of islet
centrally located
secrete insulin and C peptide
A cells of pancreas
- %
- secretion
20% of islet
peripherally located
secrete glucagon
D cells of pancreas
- %
- secretion
5% of islet
secrete somatostatin
neuronal in appearance and send “dendrite-like” processes to B cells
F cells of pancreas
Secrete pancreatic polypeptide
acts like a satiety signal
- neuropeptide Y
- peptide YY family
Describe the paracrine mechanisms of hormones in the pancreatic islets
- how do islets of langerhans communicate with each other? (2)
LO2
Ion concentration changes signal
- Gap junctions
- rapid cell-to-cell communication - Blood supply
- islets receive 10% of pancreatic blood flow
- venous blood from one cell type bathes other cell types
- venous blood from B cells carries insulin to a and b cells- blood flow to center of islet & pick up insulin
- flows through periphery on a cells to inhibit glucagon secretion
*paracrine actions work in reverse of blood flow
Explain the significance of the C
peptide as a diagnostic tool
Lo3
insulin and cleaved C peptide packaged together in secretory vesicles
- secreted in equimolar quantities into blood
**C peptide can be used as marker of endogenous insulin secretion
Insulin
- characteristic
- secreted in response to…
- main stimulator
Major anabolic hormone
secreted in response to carbohydrate and protein meal
glucose is main stimulatory factor of insulin secretion
Insulin synthesis
- components
- pathway
LO3
Peptide hormone- 2 chains linked by disulfide bridges
Preproinsulin-> proinsulin-> insulin and C peptide
Preproinsulin
signal peptide with A & B chains with connecting peptide (C peptide)
- no disulfide bonds
Proinsulin
no signal peptide
- c peptide still attached in insulin
- packaged into secretory granules
- proteases here cleave proinsulin
Explain the glucose-dependent regulation of insulin secretion/release from pancreatic β cells
- 8 steps
LO4
- Glucose enters cells via GLUT2
- Glucose is phosphorylated by glucokinase
- Glucose 6 phosphate is oxidized promoting ATP generation
- ATP closes the “inward-rectifying” K+ channels
- Plasma membrane is depolarized
- Activation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels
- Ca2+ enter cells
- Initiates mobilization of insulin(and C peptide) containing vesicles to plasma membrane and exocytosis
Explain the glucose-dependent regulation of insulin secretion/release from pancreatic β cells
- key ideas/ concepts (sulfonylurea, c peptide)
- rises in ATP CLOSES the K+ channels ( ATP dependent K channels)
- Sulfonylurea receptor, associated with ATP- dependent K+ channels, increase insulin secretion
- causes membrane depolarization to occur more easily
- more Ca2+ entry
- used for type 2 DM treatment - C peptide secretion used as tool to measure function to b cells and endogenous insulin secretion
- C peptide is typically secreted in urine
Insulin Receptor
- mechanism it undergoes
bound-insulin receptor autophosphorylates itself and phosphorylates other proteins
insulin-receptor complex is internalized by target cell
downregulation of receptor by insulin itself
Intracellular steps leading to insulin
secretion (3)
LO4a
- insulin binding to receptor
- phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) and other proteins - Substrate proteins phosphorylate and activate/inactivate downstream pathways
- PI3k/AKt/ mtor
- MAP kinases
- these mediate metabolic and mitogenic responses - Translocation of vesicles containing GLUT4 to membrane
- Glucose enters via faciliated diffusion
Insulin secretion in relationship to blood glucose
- diabetics
LO4a
insulin secretion is PROPORTIONAL to plasma glucose changes
glucose stimulate insulin secretion in a BIPHASIC manner
- in diabetic individuals: “first phase” or acute insulin response is lost first
Alternative Intracellular Pathways for Glucose Uptake Independent of Insulin
LO4a
activation of AMP-kinase (AMPK) results in GLUT 4 translocation to plasma membrane
muscle contractions stimulate this process