Pancreas: Exocrine and Endocrine Functions Flashcards
What part of the pancreas has an exocrine function?
Pancreatic acini
What part of the pancreas has an endocrine function?
Islets of langerhans
How much of the total mass of the pancreas is made up from islets of langerhans?
~ < 2%
What are the different cell types inside the islets of Langerhans?
- A / alpha / alpha 2 cells (glucagon)
- B / Beta cells (insulin)
- D / alpha 1 / gamma / delta cells (somatostatin)
- F (pancreatic polypeptide)
- Epsilon cells (grelin)
What is the structure of glucagon?
29 amino acid linear polypeptide
What is the structure of insulin?
21 amino acid (A chain) and 30 amino acids (B chain) peptides linked by 2 disulphode bonds
What is the structure of somatostatin?
14 amino acid cyclic peptide
What is the structure of pancreatic polypeptide?
36 amino acid linear polypeptide
What do the A / alpha / alpha 2 cells secrete?
Glucagon
What do the B / Beta cells secrete?
Insulin
What do the D / alpha 1 / gamma / delta cells secrete?
Somatostatin
What do the F cells secrete?
Pancreatic polypeptide
What do Epsilon cells produce?
Ghrelin (stimulates apetite)
What are the main functions of the endocrine pancreas?
- Control of blood glucose in absorptive state (insulin) and post-absorptive state (glucagon)
- Stimulate / inhibit digestive enzyme and HCO3- secretion in GI tract (pancreatic peptide and somatostatin)
How many islets of Langerhans are present in the pancreas in humans?
~ 1 million - 5 million
What are the majority of the cells in the islet of langerhans?
Beta cells
Where are Beta cells generally found in the islet of langerhans?
Centre
Where are the alpha cells generally found in the islet of langerhans?
Periphery
Where are the delta cells found in the islets of langerhans?
Juxtaposed to both alpha and beta cells
How does the blood flow through the islets of langerhans?
Through the centre then diffues out to the periphery
What percentage of blood flow to the pancreas goes to the islets of langerhans?
10 - 15% (~15 x higher than blood flow to exocrine part)
At what end of mRNA does translation start?
5’
What connects the A and B chains of mRNA?
2 Disulphide bonds (A folds over to connect with B chain)
What end is the B chain at?
Amino terminal end
WHat are the 3 chains of pro-insulin?
B, C and A chains (C connects B and A - it is cleaved off to create insulin)
Where is the C chain of pro-insulin cleaved off?
Trans-golgi
What reduces the osmotic effect of the secretory granules?
Chromatogranins, Zinc
- Create chrystilininsulin zinc complexes
Where are the disulphide bonds found on insulin?
- 2 connect the A and B chains
- 1 is located just on the A chain