The Endocrine Pancreas

Question 1

What are the functions of the pancreas?

Answer 1

Endocrine function
- islets of Langerhans

Exocrine function

• produce digestive enzymes
• acinar cells

Question 2

What are the hormones secreted by the pancreas?

Answer 2

Insulin 
Glucagon 
Somatostatin 
Pancreatic polypeptide (PP)
Ghrelin 
Gastrin

Question 3

What are the cell types in the islets?

Answer 3

β-cells
α-cells
δ-cells
PP cells
e cells
G cells

Question 4

What hormone do β-cells produce?

Answer 4

Insulin

Question 5

What hormone do α-cells produce?

Answer 5

Glucagon

Question 6

What hormone do δ-cells produce?

Answer 6

Somatostatin

Question 7

What hormone do PP cells produce?

Answer 7

PP

Question 8

What hormone do e cells produce?

Answer 8

Ghrelin

Question 9

What hormone do G cells produce?

Answer 9

Gastrin

Question 10

What hormones regulate glucose?

Answer 10

Insulin

Glucagon

Question 11

What is the effect of insulin?

Answer 11

Lowers blood glucose levels

Question 12

What is the effect of glucagon?

Answer 12

Raises blood glucose levels

Question 13

What is the normal range of blood glucose?

Answer 13

4-8mmol/L

Question 14

How is insulin synthesised?

Answer 14

1. Insulin gene codes for mRNA
2. RER
   - preproinsulin translation
   - signal cleavation
   - proinsulin folding
3. proinsulin transported to golgi
4. Golgi
   - proinsulin cleaved
   - produces insulin + c protein

Question 15

What regulates insulin secretion?

Answer 15

kATP channels

Question 16

What are the effects of insulin?

Answer 16

Increases glucose uptake
Increases glycogen synthesis
Inhibits breakdown of fatty acids

Question 17

How is glucagon synthesised?

Answer 17

Secreted by α-cells - due to low glucose levels

Synthesised in RER

Question 18

What are the effects of glucagon?

Answer 18

Liver

• increases glycogenolysis
• Stimulates gluconeogenesis
• stimulates lipolysis