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Glucagon
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Glucagon is a hormone produced by alpha cells in the pancreatic islets. When blood glucose falls, that drop is a strong signal for those cells to release glucagon.
Picture glucagon as a message traveling from the pancreas to the liver. It prompts the liver to increase the release of glucose into the bloodstream. This mechanism helps support blood glucose during fasting, exercise, and hypoglycemia.
In brief
Glucagon is a hormone produced and released by alpha cells within the pancreatic islets.
A low concentration of glucose in the blood is one of the strongest signals prompting these cells to release glucagon.
Once released, glucagon prompts the liver to release more glucose into the bloodstream. This mechanism operates during fasting, exercise, and hypoglycemia, when it helps maintain the level of glucose in the blood.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationGlucagon Physiology
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