[Endocrinology] The pancreatic islets

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Physiology

The islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce several endocrine hormones to regulate metabolism.
These include:

• Alpha cells producing glucagon (20% of total islet cells) 
• Beta cells producing insulin and amylin (≈70%) 
• Delta cells producing somatostatin (<10%) 
• Epsilon cells producing ghrelin (<1%) 
• PP cells (gamma cells or F cells) producing pancreatic polypeptide (<5%) 

Somatostatin inhibits secretion of glucagon and insulin. 

 

Pathophysiology

• Autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells leads to diabetes mellitus type 1. 
• Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETS) 

 

 Hormones

• Output: Glucagon
• Output: Insulin
• Output: Somatostatin
• Output: Ghrelin
• Output: Pancreatic polypeptide