Endocrine Pancreas Physiology Flashcards
Exocrine Pancreas
Acinar cells and duct cells
Involved in GI function
Secretes enzymes into the lumen of the duodenum
Endocrine Pancreas
Organized in islets of langerhans
2-3% of the pancreas
Richly innervated by both vagal parasympathetic system and splanchnic sympathetic fibers
Islets of Langerhans cell types
Alpha (20%)- glucagon
Beta (70%)- insulin
Delta (5%) - somatostatin
F (5%) Pancreatic polypeptide
All hormones are involved in glucose metabolism
Insulin
A polypeptide hormone produced produced by beta cells in response to hyperglycemia
Like other peptide hormones, is synthesized as a larger molecule inside of the golgi apparatus and packages into secretory granules awaiting secretion
Insulin synthesis and secretion
- Messenger RNA on the ribosome of the ER binds aa into a peptide chain called a preprohormone. The chain is directed into the ER lumen by a signal sequence of aa
- Enzymes in the ER chop off the signal sequence, creating an inactive pro hormone
- The pro hormone passes from the ER through the golgi
- Secretory vesicles containing enzymes and pro hormone bud off the golgi. The enzymes chop the prohormon into one or more active peptides plus additional peptide fragments
- The secretory vesicles releases its contents by exocytosis into he extracellular space
- The hormone moves into the circulation for transport to its target
C peptide and active insulin
Insuline chains
A protein consisting of 2 chains (alpha and beta) connected by 2 disulfide bridges
Differences in aa sequences between species are small
- Cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, and whales differ only in positions 8, 9, and 10 of the alpha chain
- Porcine differs from Human by 1 aa
- Bovine from cat by 1 aa
- Porcine and canine are the same
- Human from cat by 4 aa
- Porcine from human by 1 aa
Influences on insulin release
Several nutritional, neural, paracrine, and endocrine variables govern insulin release
-secretagogues for insulin vary by species
- -Glucose in omnivores
- Amino acids in carnivores
- -fatty acids
Factors affecting insulin secretion
Stimulatory:
Nutrients- Glucose, aa, FA, and ketones
Hormones- Growth Hormone, glucagon
Inhibitory:
Hormones- Adrenocorticosteroids, somatostatin, adrenalin, noradrenalin
Insulin secretion
Biphasic secretion kinetics
Acute phase: involves the release of preformed insulin
Chronic phase: involves the synthesis of protein
How is insulin released form B cells
Beta cells have a glucose transporter (GLUT2) in the membrane surface
Allows glucose to diffuse freely into the cell
ECF glucose concentration directly affects glucose concentration inside the beta cell
An increase in blood glucose concentration leads to insulin secretion and synthesis
Increase in Glucose into the cell through GLUT 2 leads to increase in ATP production.
This inhibits K ATPase- causes depolarization.
Voltage gated Ca channels open and Ca2+ activates insulin gene expression via CREB. Exocytosis of stored insulin
How does insulin act on target cells
After release, insulin binds to a specific membrane receptor on target tissues known as the insulin receptor or insulin receptor tyrosine kinase
2 insulin binds to receptors and form a dimer that activates cell responses
Most important insulin-sensitive tissues
Liver
Muscle
Fat
Physiological effect of insulin
Lower blood concentration of glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids
Promoting intracellular conversion of these compounds to their storage forms: Glycogen, Triglycerides, Proteins
Insulin Mediated Simulation via GLUT 4
Insulin binds to insulin receptor- dimer is formed
Insulin signal pathways activated: effects of protein metabolism, Effects on growth, Effects on lipid metabolism
Also causes translocation of GLUT4 vesicle to the cell membrane to allow glucose to enter the cell
Non-insulin mediated stimulation of GLUT 4
Exercise-responsive GLUT 4 containing vesicles
Insulin action of fat
Insulin facilitates glucose entry into cells by increasing the number of specific glucose transporters (GLUT 4) in the cell membrane
GLUT 4 is the only insulin sensitive
Insulin action on muscle
Smooth, striated and cardiac muscle
Stimulates glycogen synthesis enzymes
-promoting storage of glucose molecules in the form of glycogen
Promotes the use of glucose as a fuel source
-reduces fatty acid oxidation
-in the absence of insulin muscle rely more on fatty acids as a fuel source
Enhances amino acid uptake which promotes muscle growth
Increase glucose transport Increase glycogen synthesis Decrease glycogenolysis Increase aa uptake Increase protein synthesis Decrease protein degradation
Insulin action on adipose tissue
Increase glucose transport and consequently:
Glycerol formation- combines with fatty acids delivered to adipose tissue to form triglycerides
-fatty acids come from very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) produced in the liver
Glycogen synthesis
Insulin inhibits lipolysis which promotes adipose deposition
Increase glucose transport Increase glycogen synthesis Decrease glycogenolysis Increase lipogenesis Decrease lipolysis
Insulin action on liver
Promotes fatty acid synthesis in hepatocytes
-stimulates incorporation of those fatty acids and triglycerides into lipoprotein-bound vesicles such as VLDL for transport to adipocytes
Increase glycogen synthesis Decrease glycogenolysis Decrease gluconeogenesis Increase lipogenesis Decrease lipolysis Decrease gluconeogenesis
Insulin inactivation
Is metabolized mainly by the liver and kidneys
Specific enzymes reduced the disulfide bonds
Chains are subjected to protease activity
-reduce them to peptides and amino acids
Half life is about 10 minutes
Glucose homeostasis summary
Consumption of carbohydrate, fat, protein
Insulin release
Carbohydrates main source of energy for cells
Excess stored as glycogen fat (in liver, fat, muscles)
Release of glucagon and epinephrin
Hepatic glycogenolysis
Release of cortisones and GH
Gluconeogenesis- production of glucose from glycerol, aa, and lactate
Reduced glucose uptake on cells- fat is used as energy source except in brain
Which hormones counteract the efforts of insulin
Glucagon (acute phase)
Epinephrin/norepinephrin (acute phase)
Cortisol (Chronic Phase)
Growth hormone (Chronic Phase)
Glucagon
Is a polypeptide hormone consisting of 29 amino acids produced in the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets
Close relationship with insulin
Considerable homology between species
Half life of 5 minutes
Glucagon is encoded by the proglucagon gene which is located not only in alpha cells but also other cells of the body
- A large peptide is first produced= proglucagon
- Proglucagon is cleaves in alpha cells to form glucagon
Glucagon synthesis
Mainy stimulated by decreased glucose concentration- hypoglycemia
The secretion is triggered when levels of glucose decline below threshold, which differs between species
Opposed most insulin actions to help maintain blood glucose concentration
-glucagon is one of the counter regulatory hormones
Synthesized in a manner similar to insulin:
Membrane depolarization is independent from K channels
Secretion is promoted via voltage-dependent sodium and calcium channels
-depolarization increased calcium influx
-glucagon is released by exocytosis
G protein coupled receptors
After secretion, glucagon binds to G protein couples receptors in the target tissues Liver Adipocytes Kidney Heart Brain GI tract