Hormones 03

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Pancreas:
1. The pancreas (from pankreas: panG=all, kreasG=flesh); effering to the fleshy nature of the tissue) is both
exocrine & endocrine gland.
2. It locates the below the stomach between the curve of duodenum & spleen.
3. The pancreas secretes peptide hormones.

a. Glandular cells (or) Acinar (or) Acinii (exocrine):

The cells make up the bulk of the pancreatic tissues & secrete digestive juices into the duodenum by the
pancreatic duct.

b. Polygonal cells (or) islets of langerhans (or) islet tissue (endocrine):

Its secretion releases into the blood directly. These were discovered by Langerhans in 1867. The islets of Langerhans in
mammals contain three major types of cells, they are a-cells, b-cells, g-cells.

Pancreases secrete three type of hormones :

Insulin :

Chemistry :
1. It is the first hormone to be recognized as a protein. This is a Peptide hormone.
2. The hormone consists of 51 amino acid residues dispersed in two chains.
3. It contains two chains, they are A-chain & B-chain linked by disulfide bridges.
4. Two Zinc atoms are always found with this hormone but is not a part of the insulin molecule. The main
function of this two Zn+2 is, it stabilizes the hormonal structure.

Biosynthesis :
1. The insulin synthesis takes place in the ER of the b-cells.
2. The precursor molecule of the insulin is Proinsulin.
3. This proinsulin transfers in the granules but not in the ER. It undergoes proteolytic cleavage, consists in
cleavage of a 33 amino acid, connecting peptide chain from the proinsulin molecule leaving behind insulin.
Functions :
1. The hormone influences mainly on carbohydrate metabolism, by facilitates entry of glucose and other sugars into
the cells, by increasing penetration of cell membranes and augmenting phosphorylation of Glucose.
2. It promotes protein synthesis. At the same time, it also acts as an antiproteolytic agent
3. It influences on inorganic metabolism especially, that pf phosphate and potassium.
4. It promotes Anabolic process (synthesis of glycogen, fatty acids and proteins) and inhibits catabolic once
(breakdown of glycogen and fat).

Secretion :
1. 50 units of insulin are required per day. The human pancreas stores about 250 units.
2. Stimulating Factors :
a) Increased blood glucose level causes an increase in insulin .
b) The hyperglycemia produced by glucagon enhances insulin production.
3. Inhibiting Factors :
a) Epinephrine is the highly effective inhibitor of insulin secretion.
b) Starvation reduces insulin secretion.
c) Magnesium also inhibits insulin secretion.

Abnormalities :
1. About 90% of persons with diabetes have non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDOM) (type-2) such
patients are usually Obese.
2. The other 10% have insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (type-I).
3. Tumors of b-cell origin cause hyper-insulinism there by hypo-glycemia occurs.
4. A few individuals produce antibodies directed against there insulin receptors

Glucagon
Chemistry
a. First isolated in crystalline form.
b. This peptide hormone has a molecular weight of 3,485 and PI-8 and it has 29 amino acid residues.
c. His is the N-terminal amino acid and Thr, the C-terminal amino acid.
d. It contains no Cys, Pro, Ile, but Meth & Try are present in appreciable amounts.
Secretion :
a. Low blood glucose increases secretion of glucagon.
b. Most amino acids especially: Arg stimulates the secretion of glucagon.
c. In stress insulin secretion is inhibited but glucagon secretion is stimulated.

Functions :
a. Glucagon stimulates glycogenolysis.
b. It increases potassium release from liver.
c. Glucagon acts through cAMP as its second messenger.
d. Glucagon inhibits glucose oxidation by inhibiting pyruvate kinase.
e. Glucagon stimulates gluconeogenesis by activation of pyruvate carboxylase.
f. In adipose tissue as well as in liver it increases the breakdown of lipids to fatty acids and glycerol..

Abnormality :
Hyperglycemic agent:
Over doses of insulin, given to diabetic patients, often result in acute hypoglycemia. This may be cured by giving
crystalline glucagon (in the form of glucagon hydrochloride) either intra-muscularly (or) intravenously.

Somatostatin
Chemistry
Somatostatin, also known as growth hormoneinhibiting hormone (GHIH) or by several other names, is a
peptide hormone.
that regulates the endocrine system and affects neurotransmission and cell proliferation via interaction with G
protein-coupled somatostatin receptors and inhibition of the release of numerous secondary hormones.
Function
Somatostatin is homologous with cortistatin and suppresses the release of gastrointestinal hormones
a. Gastrin
b. Cholecystokinin (CCK)
c. Secretin
d. Motilin
e. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
f. Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)
g. Enteroglucagon
Reduces smooth muscle contractions and blood flow within the intestine.
Suppresses the release of pancreatic hormones.