10 Endocrine Pancreas

Islets of Langerhan

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  • more in the tail than head of pancreas

Glucokinase

_arrow-up-rightEnzyme stimulated by insulin. Insulin promotes transcription.,

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Glut-2 Transporter

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Glut-4 Transporter

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Insulin dependent organs

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Insulin independent organs

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Insulin

Structures

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  • made of amino acids..

Insulin and autonomics

_arrow-up-rightamino acids, glucose, GLP-1, Ach stimulate release..

_arrow-up-rightE, NE, somatostatin, Growth hormone, glucocorticoids..

_arrow-up-rightAutonomic control plays a minor role in insulin control, except during sympathetic activation..

Islets are richly innervated by both adrenergic and cholinergic nerves.

In general, any condition that activates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system (such as hypoxia, hypoglycemia, exercise, hypothermia, surgery, or severe burns) suppresses the secretion of insulin by stimulation of α2 (Gi) adrenergic receptors.

A2 adrenergic

_arrow-up-rightStimulation of α2 adrenergic receptors (Gi) inhibits insulin secretion..

a2 adrenergic receptor antagonists increase basal concentrations of insulin in plasma

B2

_arrow-up-rightB2(Gs) adrenergic receptor agonists increase insulin release..

However, liver gluconeogenesis is also increased and is the dominant effect. The end result is hyperglycemia.

β2 adrenergic receptor antagonists decrease insulin in plasma. However, there is an overall decreased glucose level in plasma, as b2 receptors on hepatocytes are also blocked from gluconeogenesis.

Vagal

_arrow-up-rightβ2 (Gs) adrenergic receptor agonists and vagal nerve stimulation enhance release..

Liver, adipocytes, and autonomics

_arrow-up-rightThe effects on blood glucose levels are also determined by glycogenolysis in hepatocytes and gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes assisted by lipolysis in adipocytes..

Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes is stimulated by beta-2 agonism via activation of glycogen phosphorylase kinase by epinephrine and glucagon (Gs).

Lipolysis is stimulated by activation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in adipocyte cytoplasm by epinephrine via the beta-3 agonism (Gs) and glucagon (Gs).

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Insulin Receptor

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PIK3 pathway

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  • PIP2 phosphorylated to make PIP3..

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RAS/MAPK pathway

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Insulin effects

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  • also tells bones and keratinocytes to grow (tall children)

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Glucagon

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Glucagon Effects

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  • Muscle triggers by Ca and exercise, not glucagon

  • Gluconeogenesis mostly in liver

  • Insulin: aa uptake in muscle

_arrow-up-rightGlucagon increases urea production because amino acids are used for gluconeogenesis (stimulated by glucagon), and the resulting amino groups are incorporated into urea..

_arrow-up-rightUses:

Hypoglycemia..

  • IV dextrose is best. If not, then IM

Beta blocker overdose

  • Activates glucagon receptor not beta receptor. Same downstream effect

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  • high protein: insulin high to make protein in muscle. Glucagon high to make glucose from aa and prevent lipid synthesis

  • result: less fat after protein meal..

Pancreatic tumors

_arrow-up-rightAre of neuroendocrine origin..

_arrow-up-rightHistology shows rosettes:..

Insulinoma

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  • Whipple's triad: fasting hypoglycemia, neuroglycopenic problem, problem relieved by glucose

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  • elevated c-peptide/pro-insulin: prove from pancreas

  • exogenous insulin: people may use for gains

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Glucagonoma

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  • Looks like diabetes

Glucagonomas are glucagon-secreting neuroendocrine tumors of alpha cells in the pancreas.

Other symptoms:

  • Deep vein thrombosis

  • Depression

  • Diarrhea

  • Anemia of chronic Disease (normocytic, normochromic anemia)

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Somatostatinoma

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VIPoma

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Pancreatic neuroendocrine (islet cell) tumors that secrete vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The increased pancreatic secretions and increased GI relaxation result in severe diarrhea, which can in turn cause hypokalemia and achlorhydria.

VIPoma is also termed “WDHA syndrome” for

  • Watery

  • Diarrhea

  • Hypokalemia

  • Achlorhydria..

Gastrinoma

_arrow-up-rightAka zollinger ellison syndrome.,

_arrow-up-rightExcess production of HCl will cause recalcitrant gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, and chronic watery diarrhea., Other symptoms of ZES include epigastric pain, steatorrhea, and vomiting. Gastrin activates stomach parietal cells (which secrete HCl) and enterochromaffin-like cells (which secrete histamine).

Secretin Stimulation test

_arrow-up-rightUsed to diagnosis gastrinoma. Indicates that gastrin levels remain elevated after the administration of secretin (normally inhibits gastrin release).,

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