Glucagon is a hormone
secreted by the Alpha Cells of the Islets of the Langerhans within
the pancreas (an endocrine gland in the human
body).
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The presence in the blood of hormone glucagon causes
an increase in the quantity of sugar in the blood (blood
sugar level). That is, glucagon in the bloodstream has the opposite effect
to that of insulin (which
regulates the amount of sugar in the blood so that there is not too
much sugar present in it).
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Glucagon increases blood sugar (or "blood glucose")
levels when they fall below the typically "normal" level i.e. in the
range 4-10 m.mol/litre, in the following ways: |
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Accelerating the conversion of glycogen in the liver into glucose.
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Promoting the conversion in the liver of amino acids and lactic
acid into glucose.
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Stimulating the release of glucose from the liver into the blood.
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Glucagon is administered by injection to counteract
diabetic hypoglycaemia.
For more information about the way the body balances blood sugar levels,
see the page about diabetes. For further general/summary information
(excellent for revision !) visit the page
about Endocrine
Glands of the Human Body. |
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