Pancreatic islet alpha cell commands itself: secrete more glucagon!

Gaisano, Herbert Y; Leung, Yuk M · Cell Metab · 2008

review · Level V

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Abstract

Glucagon release by pancreatic alpha cells is stimulated by low glucose through unclear mechanisms. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Cabrera et al. (2008) show that glutamate released from alpha cells acts on glutamate receptors in a positive autocrine fashion that drives glucagon secretion during small physiological fluctuations of blood glucose.

Medical subject headings