The GLUTs transport glucose across the plasma membrane by means of a facilitated diffusion mechanism.

Glucose (except that used for metabolism of epithelial cell) exits BL surface of cell by facilitated diffusion = carrier mediated transport. Material does NOT enter capillaries by diffusion across a membrane. Material diffuses through liquid in spaces (pores) between the cells.

Cells obtain energy from glucose or convert it to fat for long-term storage. Like a key fits into a lock, insulin binds to receptors on the cell’s surface, causing GLUT4 molecules to come to the cell’s surface. As their name implies, glucose transporter proteins act as vehicles to ferry glucose inside the cell.

When blood sugar drops too low, the level of insulin declines and other cells in the pancreas release glucagon, which causes the liver to turn stored glycogen back into glucose and release it into the blood. This brings blood sugar levels back up to normal.

Beta cells are the producers of the only blood glucose-lowering hormone in the body: insulin. Alpha cells, by contrast, produce glucagon, a hormone that has blood glucose-increasing effects.

Insulin is an essential hormone produced by the pancreas. Its main role is to control glucose levels in our bodies.

Alpha cells (A cells) secrete the hormone glucagon. Beta cells (B cells) produce insulin and are the most abundant of the islet cells.

pancreas

Pancreatic polypeptide cells (PP cells), or formerly as gamma cells (γ-cells), or F cells, are cells in the pancreatic islets (Islets of Langerhans) of the pancreas. They produce pancreatic polypeptide, after which they are named.

What does pp mean? Per Procurationem (p.p. or pp) is used to indicate that a person is signing a document or letter on behalf of another person. Per procurationem is a Latin phrase meaning “on behalf of” or “by the agency of” or “acting as the representative of”.

A small protein made by the pancreas that helps control the release of other substances made by the pancreas. The amount of PP in the blood increases after a person eats. It may also increase with age, and in certain diseases, such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Also called pancreatic polypeptide.

Pancreatic Polypeptide

Insulin is released by the ‘beta cells’ in the islets of Langerhans in response to food. Its role is to lower glucose levels in the bloodstream and promote the storage of glucose in fat, muscle, liver and other body tissues. ‘Alpha cells’ in the islets of Langerhans produce another important hormone, glucagon.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a 30-amino acid peptide hormone produced in the intestinal epithelial endocrine L-cells by differential processing of proglucagon, the gene which is expressed in these cells.

A fourth type of islet cell, the F (or PP) cell, is located at the periphery of the islets and secretes pancreatic polypeptide. These hormones regulate one another’s secretion through paracrine cell-cell interactions.

In humans, it is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and functions as a gland. The pancreas is a mixed or heterocrine gland, i.e. it has both an endocrine and a digestive exocrine function. 99% part of pancreas is exocrine and 1% part is endocrine….

The main hormones secreted by the endocrine gland in the pancreas are insulin and glucagon, which regulate the level of glucose in the blood, and somatostatin, which prevents the release of insulin and glucagon.

Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin (pronounced: IN-suh-lin). Insulin helps the glucose get into the body’s cells.