The Endocrine Pancreas 2 Flashcards
What type of hormone is glucagon?
Peptide hormone
Where is glucagon made?
alpha cells in pancreatic islets
What is the role of glucagon?
Raise blood glucose
Glucose-mobilising hormone
Glucagon acts on what?
The liver
What is the half life of glucagon?
5-10mins
What hormones make up the counter-regulatory control system for glucose?
Glucagon
Epinephrine
Cortisol
GH
When is glucagon most active?
Fasted state
Glucagon binds to what?
G-protein coupled receptors linked to the adenylate cyclase/cAMP system
What happens when glucagon binds to G-protein coupled receptors?
Phosphorylation of specific liver enzymes
What is the effect of the Phosphorylation of specific liver enzymes by glucagon?
Increased Glycogenolysis
Increased gluconeogenesis
Formation of ketones from FAs (lipolysis)
What happens to Liver glycogen in the presence of glucagon?
Conversion of glycogen to glucose
What happens to lipids in adipose tissue in the presence of glucagon?
Lipids become free fatty acids and glycerol
What happens to muscle cells in a low [Glucose] environment?
Use of glycogen
FAs/Breakdown of proteins to amino acids for energy
What can the brain use for energy?
Glucose
Ketone bodies
Glycogen is converted into what in muscles/
Pyruvate/lactate –> Glucose (gluconeogenesis)
Amino acids in the plasma stimulate what?
Increased insulin and glucagon
What is the benefit of a high protein meal with little carbohydrate stimulating Insulin AND glucagon?
Prevents hypoglycaemia following insulin release in response to aa.
Stimuli that promote glucagon release?
Low [BG] (<5mM)
High [amino acids] .
sympathetic innervation and epinephrine, beta2 effect
Cortisol
Stress e.g. exercise, infection