Topic 7: Hormonal Regulation

Question 1

What part of the pancreas contains cells producing glucagon and insulun?

Answer 1

In pancreas, the pancreatic islet contains
- alpha-cells: producing glucagon
- Beta-cells: producing insulun

Question 2

What does Beta-cells in pancreas react to in order to release insulun?

Answer 2

Beta-cells integrate many different inputs including level of glucose, amino acids, and GLP1 hormones

Question 3

Describe the process of beta-cell being activated to secrete insulun

Answer 3

After eating, the level of blood glucose increases, diffuses into the cell through GLUT2 transporters and gets metabolised.

Then, ATP is produced. Higher ATP level triggers KATP-channel to close.

Membrane becomes depolarized (more positive), making the VDCC channel to open which will allow Ca2+ ions to flood into the cell.

The level of Ca2+ in the cell goes up, activating the insulin granule to release insulin.

Question 4

How does GLP-1 affect insulin secretion?

Answer 4

GLP-1 acts on the production of cAMP which greatly augments the rate of insulin secretion.

Question 5

What are some symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes?

Answer 5

T1D has symptoms like:
- weight loss
- excessive thirst
- frequent urination
- fatigue

Question 6

What is auto immune disease?

Answer 6

Auto-immune diseases is a disorder in which your body rejects elements of itself, so the immune system kills your own cells.

Question 7

What happens to your body when you have T1D?

Answer 7

T1D is an auto-immune disorder when B-cells are not recognized, so antibodies against B-cells are created to destroy these cells. Declining B-cells level alters the blood glucose level greatly.

Question 8

Why do people with diabetes have constant and excessive urine?

Answer 8

Without insulin, the process of removing it from the blood and store it in cells slows down. Too much glucose in the blood will end up in the urine
–> osmosis, more water –> more urine
–> more water in urine –> thirst

Question 9

What happens to your body when you have T2D?

Answer 9

People have T2D have a declining insulin secretion, which means that B-cells cannot keep up with the demand for insulin.

Question 10

Why does obesity/overweight is associated with T2D?

Answer 10

Too much food –> excessive glucose –> Beta cells cannot keep up –> slow down the process of absorbing glucose

Question 11

What are the symptoms for T2D?

Answer 11

• constant hunger
• constant urination
• fungal infection
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• numbness
• slow healing of wounds