Glucagon
Glucagon - Related Videos
01:15
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
0 Views •
2024
Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
01:24
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
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2024
Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP. GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by the...
01:58
Cell Specific Gene Expression
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2020
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
07:37
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Operation in Rats
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Cited by 45 •
2012
Numerous studies using gastric bypass rat models have been recently conducted to uncover the underlying physiological mechanisms of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operations. This article aims to demonstrate and discuss the technical and experimental details of our published gastric bypass rat model to understand advantages and limitations of this experimental tool.
09:16
Mixed Primary Cultures of Murine Small Intestine Intended for the Study of Gut Hormone Secretion and Live Cell Imaging of Enteroendocrine Cells
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Cited by 30 •
2017
This protocol describes the isolation and culture of mixed murine small intestinal cells. These primary intestinal cultures enable the investigation of signaling pathways underlying gut peptide secretion using a number of techniques.
FAQs
After binding its receptor on a hepatocyte, glucagon activates G protein-coupled signaling that stimulates adenylyl cyclase and increases cyclic AMP. This intracellular signal promotes the breakdown of stored hepatic glycogen and supports gluconeogenesis, allowing the liver to release or produce glucose when energy availability is low rather than favoring glucose storage.
These pathways provide complementary sources of glucose. Glycogenolysis mobilizes glucose from hepatic glycogen, while gluconeogenesis generates glucose through a separate metabolic route. Activating both processes helps glucagon restore circulating glucose under conditions of limited energy availability. At the same time, its signaling limits glucose storage, reinforcing a coordinated response to low glucose availability.
Cyclic AMP functions as a key intracellular messenger downstream of the glucagon receptor. By activating adenylyl cyclase and raising cyclic AMP, receptor binding is translated into metabolic changes inside hepatocytes. This signaling links the extracellular hormone or drug stimulus to increased hepatic glycogen breakdown, gluconeogenesis, and reduced glucose storage.
Glucagon becomes particularly relevant when energy availability is low because its signaling shifts hepatic metabolism toward making glucose accessible. Rather than promoting storage, the response mobilizes glycogen and supports gluconeogenesis. This relationship explains why glucagon can influence both normal glucose regulation and pharmacological interventions intended to correct dangerously low blood glucose.
Administered glucagon is used for severe hypoglycemia when oral carbohydrate is not feasible, including situations in which a patient is unconscious. Its rapid action provides a pharmacological means of raising blood glucose without relying on oral intake. This application is especially important when impaired consciousness prevents the usual oral approach to correcting hypoglycemia.
Studies of glucagon receptor signaling reveal how hormonal control of hepatic glucose production is organized at the cellular level. This knowledge supports research into metabolic regulation and helps inform development of therapies for diabetes, obesity, and related disorders. The same mechanism that guides emergency hypoglycemia treatment therefore also provides a framework for investigating broader metabolic interventions.