Possible roles of the pancreatic D-cell in the normal and diabetic states.

Full Abstract

The A-, D-, and B-cells--the islet cells that contain, respectively, immunoreactive glucagon, somatostatin, and insulin--are distributed within a specialized heterocellular region of the islets of Langerhans as if to permit heterologous contacts between all three cell types. Inasmuch as each one of the three secretory products of these three cell types influences the secretion of at least one of its neighboring cells, "paracrine" influence on islet hormone secretion becomes a reasonable hypothesis. Glucagon stimulates both insulin and somatostatin release, while insulin and somatostatin both inhibit glucagon release, providing the basis for a feedback relationship through which A-cell secretion may be restrained. In addition, glucagon-mediated insulin secretion may be estrained by glucagon-stimulated somatostatin release. Such intercellular relationships could help determine the composition of the insulin and glucagon mistures released within a given metabolic setting.

Author information

Author/s: Unger, R H (RH); Orci, L (L);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Diabetes (Diabetes), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1977-Mar; vol 26 (issue 3) : pp 241-4

Dates: Created 1977/04/28; Completed 1977/04/28; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 320077, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.