L6 - Endocrine Pancreas Flashcards
Approximately what percent of the pancreas is composed of Islets of Langerhans?
10%
What is secreted by the cells of the Islets of Langerhans?
Alpha secrete glucagon, beta secrete insulin, and delta secrete somatostatin
What is the structure of insulin? How is it synthesized?
Composed of two chains (alpha and beta) connected by disulfide bridges; Proinsulin is posttranslationally cleaved into insulin and clear (c-) peptide
How is insulin released? What causes this pattern?
Biphasic, pulsitile pattern of release: there is an initial large peak of release due to readily releasable granules, followed by a prolonged, but less powerful release of granules that take tome to mature, prime, and mobilize
What is the ratio of insulin to clear peptide released from the beta cell?
1 : 1
What is the physiologic importance of a pulsitile release of insulin?
Important for achieving the maximal physiologic effects– esp.in the suppression of liver glucose production, and in insulin-mediated glucose utilization by adipose and muscle
When is insulin release highest?
Post-prandially
How does insulin circulate? What is the half-life?
Circulates free- half-life of 3-8 minutes
How much of the insulin released by the pancreas is metabolized by the liver on its first pass through?
About 50%
What is the best index of pancreatic secretory function? Why?
C-peptide because it is more resistant to degradation than insulin
What is the normal pathway of insulin release?
Glucose enters the cell through GLUT2 transporter and enters glycolysis, TCA, making ATP. The increased ATP/ADP ratio inhibits the ATP-sensitive potassium channel on the membrane, resulting in depolarization of the cell, opening voltage gated calcium channels allowing Ca++ influx which is necessary to mobilize insulin containing granules so they can release contents
What compounds can stimulate/ potentiate insulin release? Inhibit?
Amino acids, ketoacids, ACh, cholecystokinin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide; Epi, NE, and somatostatin all inhibit insulin release
What is a sulfonylurea receptor? What is the effect of sulfonylurea on insulin release?
ATP-sensitive K+ channel; Stimulation of release
What is the relationship between K+ current and ATP levels?
Increasing concentrations of ATP will slowly decrease the K+ current
What is the structure of the insulin receptor? How does binding mediate cellular change?
Two chains outside and two chains inside the cell; Binding recruits insulin receptor substrates (IRS1-4)
What are the effects of insulin binding?
Increased glucose uptake, glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, and decreased gluconeogenesis decrease plasma glucose; Increased lipogenesis and decreased lipolysis favors buildup of adipose; Stimulation of protein synthesis and decreased proteolysis favors buildup of muscle
What happens to insulin-receptor complex following binding?
The complex is internalized, the hormone is degraded and the receptor is recycled to membrane
How is insulin receptor expression modulated?
With high concentrations of insulin, excess growth hormone, or obesity, there is a decrease in insulin receptor expression. With exercise or fasting/starving, there is enhanced insulin receptor expression
What are the early effects of insulin on the cell (Esp. adipocytes and muscle cells)?
Increases expression of GLUT4 on the plasma membrane; it can also increase influx of K+, activate the Na+/H+ antiporter, which increases Na+ into the cell resulting in increased Na+/K+ ATPase activity, pumping Na+ out to bring K+ in
Which of the glucose transporters are insulin-sensitive?
GLUT4
True or False: The brain requires insulin to bring glucose into the cell?
False
What is the major neuronal glucose transporter?
GLUT3
Which glucose transporter can transport fructose? Where is it found?
GLUT5 in sperm and small intestines