Journal ArticleDOI
Pancreatic Neuroendocrinology: Peripheral Neural Mechanisms in the Regulation of the Islets of Langerhans*
Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
The anatomy of the islet in relation to its vascular supply and both motor and sensory autonomic nerves, which may play a role in altering the secretion rate of islet hormones are described.Abstract:
The islets of Langerhans are richly vascularized and both the islet cells and blood vessels are intimately associated with a variety of autonomic nerves. Direct electrical stimulation of the nerves in vivo or pharmacological stimulation of the islets with neurotransmitters in vitro results in changes in the rate of release of islet hormones. The purpose of this paper is to describe the anatomy of the islet in relation to its vascular supply and both motor and sensory autonomic nerves, which may play a role in altering the secretion rate of islet hormones. Evidence for catecholaminergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic nerves as well as possible peptide neurotransmitters in the pancreas is examined. Secondly, physiological and pharmacological studies are reviewed that reveal how efferent autonomic neural activity leads to altered islet secretion rates. Third, because the complex structure of the islet is supplied with a variety of autonomic nerves, the evidence for excitation of these nerves via reflex activa...read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Physiology and Pathophysiology of Purinergic Neurotransmission
TL;DR: This review is focused on purinergic neurotransmission, i.e., ATP released from nerves as a transmitter or cotransmitter to act as an extracellular signaling molecule on both pre- and postjunctional membranes at neuroeffector junctions and synapses, as well as acting as a trophic factor during development and regeneration.
Journal ArticleDOI
Pathophysiology and treatment of type 2 diabetes: perspectives on the past, present, and future
TL;DR: More effective therapies to slow progressive loss of β-cell function are needed and additional long-term studies of drugs and bariatric surgery are needed to identify new ways to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes and thereby reduce the harmful effects of this disease.
Journal ArticleDOI
Mammalian G proteins and their cell type specific functions
TL;DR: In this review, some of the functions of heterotrimeric G proteins in defined cells and tissues are described.
Journal ArticleDOI
Mechanisms and Physiological Significance of the Cholinergic Control of Pancreatic β-Cell Function
TL;DR: The mechanisms explaining the glucose dependence of the effects of ACh on insulin release are discussed, which involves a marked, PKC-mediated increase in the efficiency of Ca(2+) on exocytosis of insulin granules.
Journal ArticleDOI
Local Ventromedial Hypothalamus Glucopenia Triggers Counterregulatory Hormone Release
TL;DR: It is concluded that glucopenia localized to the VMH triggers the release of counterregulatory hormones that defend against hypoglycemia, and the neurons that sense gluc Openia may be situated in theVMH.