Gland
Pancreatic alpha cell
An islet cell that signals hepatic glucose release
High-yield
Glucagon supports fasting glucose availability mainly by increasing hepatic glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis. Local insulin and somatostatin help regulate its release.
Overview
Alpha cells release glucagon as nutrient availability and local islet signals change. They are interspersed with other endocrine cells in human islets rather than confined to a uniform outer mantle. Their hormone reaches the liver through pancreatic venous drainage into the portal circulation.
Reference facts
- Location
- Distributed throughout human pancreatic islets with variable regional abundance and arrangement near capillaries.
- Hormones
- Glucagon and other products of proglucagon processing, with processing patterns differing from intestinal endocrine cells.
- Blood supply
- Shares an interconnected islet microvascular network; a universal beta-core-to-alpha-mantle perfusion sequence is not established in humans.
- Innervation
- Nutrient sensing, autonomic signals and paracrine inhibition from neighboring cells jointly influence secretion.
- Function
- Helps maintain circulating fuel during fasting and stress, especially by stimulating liver glucose production.
Clinical correlation
The glucagon response to hypoglycemia can become impaired in type 1 diabetes, weakening counterregulation. A glucagon-secreting tumor may produce diabetes, weight loss and necrolytic migratory erythema, but the complete syndrome is uncommon.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the pancreatic alpha cell located?
The pancreatic alpha cell lies distributed throughout human pancreatic islets with variable regional abundance and arrangement near capillaries.
What does the pancreatic alpha cell secrete?
Glucagon and other products of proglucagon processing, with processing patterns differing from intestinal endocrine cells.
What does the pancreatic alpha cell do?
Helps maintain circulating fuel during fasting and stress, especially by stimulating liver glucose production.
What is the blood supply of the pancreatic alpha cell?
Shares an interconnected islet microvascular network; a universal beta-core-to-alpha-mantle perfusion sequence is not established in humans.