Why does insulin secretion inhibit glucagon secretion?
Disease description:
Recently, my doctor asked me to reduce my insulin intake. I would like to understand why insulin secretion inhibits glucagon secretion.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Insulin and glucagon are two key hormones secreted by pancreatic beta cells and alpha cells, respectively. Insulin secretion inhibits glucagon secretion, which can be analyzed from the following aspects:
1. Interaction between pancreatic islet cells: Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, while pancreatic alpha cells secrete glucagon. When beta cells are active and secreting insulin, they inhibit the activity of alpha cells, thereby suppressing glucagon secretion.
2. Negative feedback regulatory mechanism: The inhibitory effect of insulin on glucagon secretion is a negative feedback regulatory mechanism. When blood glucose levels rise, pancreatic beta cells increase insulin secretion, which not only directly promotes a decrease in blood glucose but also indirectly inhibits glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells through a series of signaling pathways (such as the cAMP-PKA pathway), preventing further elevation of blood glucose and thus maintaining blood glucose levels within a normal range.
3. Influence of blood glucose concentration: Blood glucose concentration is a key factor in regulating the secretion of these two hormones. When blood glucose levels rise, insulin secretion increases while glucagon secretion decreases, lowering blood glucose levels. The opposite also holds true.
