The total number of cells per islet section and the beta and
alpha cells were counted as they differentially stained with chrome alum Hematoxylin-phloxin.
It works by restoring the human beta and
alpha cell populations in the pancreas.
However, the researchers were missing the second half of the pancreatic equation: cells, like
alpha cells, that sense blood sugar and secrete a hormone to offset insulin's effects.
In younger age group, the alcoholism increased the blood glucose level by increasing the appetite as well as by stimulating the
alpha cells in islets.
Failure to suppress glucagon secretion from the
alpha cells of the pancreas contributes to hyperglycaemia.
In a recently published study in Nature, it is demonstrated that SGLT2 is expressed in glucagon- secreting
alpha cells of the pancreatic islets.14 The investigators further found that expression of SLC5A2 (which encodes SGLT2) was lower and glucagon (GCG) gene expression was higher in islets from type 2 diabetic individuals and in normal islets exposed to chronic hyperglycemia than in islets from non-diabetics.
glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion from L cells and
alpha cells. Nat Med.
GLP-1 is a naturally-occurring peptide hormone that is released within minutes after eating a meal and is known to suppress glucagon secretion from pancreatic
alpha cells and stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells.
This latter finding is likely a consequence of GLP-1--based therapies' suppression of the release of glucagon by
alpha cells, since decreasing the availability or action of the hormone glucagon has been shown in a variety of prior studies to induce a proliferation of pancreatic
alpha cells.
The two main types of pancreatic cells are
alpha cells and beta cells.
Alpha cells in the pancreas can spontaneously transform into insulin-producing beta cells, researchers report online April 4 in Nature.