Which pancreatic cells secrete insulin?

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Multiple Choice

Which pancreatic cells secrete insulin?

Insulin is produced by beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. These cells respond to rising blood glucose after a meal and release insulin through a glucose-sensing pathway: glucose enters the beta cell, is metabolized to raise ATP, ATP closes K+ channels causing depolarization, which opens calcium channels and triggers exocytosis of insulin-containing granules. Insulin lowers blood glucose by promoting uptake into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (via GLUT4), stimulating glycogen synthesis in the liver, and inhibiting glucose production. Other pancreatic cell types have different roles: alpha cells secrete glucagon to raise glucose, delta cells secrete somatostatin, and gamma (PP) cells secrete pancreatic polypeptide. Therefore, the cells that secrete insulin are the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans.

Insulin is produced by beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. These cells respond to rising blood glucose after a meal and release insulin through a glucose-sensing pathway: glucose enters the beta cell, is metabolized to raise ATP, ATP closes K+ channels causing depolarization, which opens calcium channels and triggers exocytosis of insulin-containing granules. Insulin lowers blood glucose by promoting uptake into skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (via GLUT4), stimulating glycogen synthesis in the liver, and inhibiting glucose production. Other pancreatic cell types have different roles: alpha cells secrete glucagon to raise glucose, delta cells secrete somatostatin, and gamma (PP) cells secrete pancreatic polypeptide. Therefore, the cells that secrete insulin are the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans.

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