Insulin, Glucagon, and

Diabetes Mellitus

Ref: Textbook Of Medical Physiology, Guyton and Hall

 Insulin, Glucagon, and
Diabetes Mellitus
Learning objectives:
 Anatomy of the pancreas in brief.
 General features, types of tissues, types of cells etc.
 Major physiological roles of glucagon.
 Major physiological roles of Insulin.
 Deficiency conditions.
 Factors regulating insulin secretion.
 Diabetes Mellitus
Anatomy of the
Pancreas

The pancreas is composed of two major types of tissues:

(1) the acini,
(2) the islets of Langerhans.
Physiologic Anatomy
of the Pancreas

The islets contain three major

types of cells:

 The beta cells

constituting about 60 per cent of all the cells of the islets, lie mainly in the
middle of each islet and secrete insulin.
 The alpha cells
about 25 per cent of the total, secrete glucagon.
 The delta cells
about 10 per cent of the total, secrete somatostatin
 Glucagon and Its Functions
• Glucagon is a hormone secreted by the alpha cells of
the islets of Langerhans.
• Glucagon is secreted when the blood glucose
concentration falls.
• Most important of glucagon functions is to increase
the blood glucose concentration, an effect that is
exactly the opposite that of insulin.
 Insulin Is a Hormone Associated with
Energy Abundance

• When there is great abundance of energy-giving

foods in the diet, especially excess amounts of
carbohydrates, insulin is secreted in great quantity.
• In turn, the insulin plays an important role in storing
the excess energy.
• In the case of excess carbohydrates, it causes them to
be stored as glycogen mainly in the liver and
muscles.
 Effect of Insulin on Carbohydrate
Metabolism
• The insulin causes rapid uptake, storage, and use of
glucose by almost all tissues of the body.
– Insulin Promotes Muscle Glucose Uptake and Metabolism.

– Insulin Promotes Liver Uptake, Storage, and Use of Glucose.

• Glucose Is Released from the Liver Between Meals.

• Insulin Promotes Conversion of Excess Glucose into Fatty Acids and

Inhibits Gluconeogenesis in the Liver.
 Effect of Insulin on Fat Metabolism
• Physiological function:
– Insulin Promotes Fat Synthesis and Storage

• Insulin deficiency:
– Insulin Deficiency Causes Lipolysis of Storage Fat and Release
of Free Fatty Acid

– Insulin Deficiency Increases Plasma Cholesterol and

Phospholipid Concentrations.

– The high lipid concentration—especially the high

concentration of cholesterol—promotes the development of
atherosclerosis in people with serious diabetes.
 Effect of Insulin on Protein Metabolism
• Physiological function:
– Insulin Promotes Protein Synthesis and Storage

– Insulin and Growth Hormone Interact Synergistically to

Promote Growth.

• Insulin deficiency:
– Insulin Lack Causes Protein Depletion and Increased Plasma
Amino Acids.
 Factors and Conditions That Regulate
Insulin Secretion

Increase Insulin Secretion Decrease Insulin Secretion

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus