The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. It plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel for the body’s cells. The pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar. The endocrine pancreas consist of islet of langerhans . there are 1 to 2 million islet of langerhans are called alpha and beta cells. The alpha cells secret hormone glucagon and beta cells secrets insulin.
GLUCAGON:
- Glucagon is a peptide hormone and plays an important role in maintaining the normal blood glucose levels.
- Glucagon acts mainly on the liver cells and stimulates glyconeolysis resulting in an increased blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
- This hormone stimulate the process of Gluconeogenesis which also contribute to hyperglycemia.
- Glucagon is a hyperglycemia hormone.
INSULIN:
- Insulin is a peptide hormone, which plays a major role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.
- Insulin. Mainly acts on hepatocytes and adipocytes and enhances cellular glucose uptake and utilisation.
- As a result ‚there is a rapid movement of glucose from blood to hepatocytes and adipocytes resulting in decreased blood glucose level (hypoglycemia).
- Insulin also stimulates conversion of glucose to glycogen (glucogenesis).
The glucose homeostasis in blood is thus maintained by the two — Insulin and Glucagons.