Normal Physiology Flashcards
What stimulates insulin release?
Secretion is mediated by glucose entry into beta cells via GLUT-2 transporters
What are the endocrine cells of the pancreas?
Islets of langerhans
What are the main cells of the islets of langerhans?
- Alpha - secrete Glucagon
- Beta - Secrete insulin
- Delta - Secrete somatostatin
- F cells - secrete pancreatic polypeptide
What do alpha cells of the islets of langerhans secrete?
Glucagon
What do beta cells of the islets of langerhands secrete?
Insulin
What do delta cells of the islets on langerhans secrete?
Somatostatin
What are the products of the cleavage process of proinsulin (the precursor to insulin)?
Insulin and C-peptide
What is the physiology behind insulin release?
Increased glucose entry via GLUT-2 transporters. This increases ATP production in Beta cells, and causes ATP dependent K+ transporters to close, leading to a build up of K+ within the cell.
This depolarises the cells and opens voltage dependent Ca2+, which causes a large Ca2+ influx. The Ca2+ signals exocytosis and release of insulin
What is the direct action of insulin on glucose metabolism?
Insulin stimulates the mobilization of GLUT-4, which reside in the cytoplasm of unstimulated cells, in insulin receptive cells. GLUT4 migrates to the membrane and is then able to transport glucose into the cell. When insulin stimulation stops, the GLUT-4 transporters return to the cytoplasmic pool.
Which glucose transporter is insulin dependent?
GLUT-4
Which glucose transporters are not insulin dependent?
GLUT-1, GLUT-2 and GLUT-3
What are examples of tissues which have insulin dependent glucose receptors in them?
- Muscle
- Fat
Where are GLUT-3 transporters found?
Brain neurones and placenta
What effect does insulin have on the liver in a fed state?
Insulin activates hexokinase, which lowers glucose concentration in the hepatocyte, creating a concentration gradient into the cell. This is then converted to glycogen
What are the main stimuli for the release of insulin?
- Increased [BG]
- Increased [amino acids]
- Glucagon - insulin required to take up glucose created via gluconeogenesis stimulated by glucagon
- Incretin hormones - gastrin, secretin, CCK, GLP-1, GIP.
- Vagal nerve activity