Endocrine Abstracts

The islets of Langerhans are the small endocrine micro-organs embedded in the exocrine pancreas. The beta-cells of the islets secrete insulin with its well-known blood glucose-lowering effects and that becomes deficient in diabetes. The islets also secrete glucagon (from alpha-cells), the body’s principal blood glucose-increasing hormone. The release of glucagon also becomes impaired in diabetes, which contributes to the metabolic impact of the lack of insulin and complic...