What does the pancreas produce in humans?

The anatomical structure of the human pancreas suggests its multifunctionality: the main organ of the digestive processes and the endocrine system.

Hormones of the organ in question help to carry out metabolic processes, digestive enzymes - the proper absorption of nutrient components.

The formation of pancreatitis or diabetes, as well as pathological processes in gastrointestinal tract, the ability to quickly adapt to changing external and internal provoking factors.

What hormones does

Often the question arises of what the human pancreas produces.

The glandular cells of the parenchyma of the organ in question actively synthesize over 20 enzymes that are involved in the breakdown of fatty, protein and carbohydrate foods.

Failure in excretory functioning during pancreatitis leads to lifelong use of enzyme agents.

The intrasecretory functioning of the gland is carried out by special cells. The islets of Langerhans are the endocrine part of the pancreas.

They produce 11 hormones of carbohydrate synthesis. The number of islets that produce hormones is about 2 million, the tissue itself occupies up to 3% of the gland itself.

One islet of Langerhans covers 100-200 cells with different structures and tasks:

• alpha cells (25%) - produce glucagon;
• beta cells (60%) - insulin and amylin;
• delta cells (10%) - somatostatin;
• PP (5%) - vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and pancreatic polypeptide (PP);
• gamma cells produce gastrin, which affects pancretic juice, its acidity.

In addition to these, the gland produces some other hormones:

• kallikrein;
• centropnein;
• lipocaine;
• vagotonin.

Each of them is interconnected functionally. They are involved in complex metabolic processes that take place inside the body.

Functions

Each of the types of hormonal components of the pancreas plays an important role.

Violations in the formation of one leads to a serious pathological process, which in certain situations must be eliminated until the end of life.

• Insulin performs a large number of functions inside the body, the main one is bringing glucose levels back to normal. When there is a violation of its synthesis, diabetes is formed.
• Glucagon is directly related to insulin, which is responsible for the breakdown of fats, leading to an increase in sugar in the bloodstream. Thanks to it, the concentration of calcium and phosphorus decreases.
• Somatostatin. The hormonal component, the bulk of which is produced in the brain, is found in the gastrointestinal tract. Revealed its relationship with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland (participates in the regulation of their functions), plays a role in inhibition of the synthesis of hormonally active peptides and serotonin in the digestive tract, including in pancreas.
• Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is observed in large volume in the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. Affects the state of internal organs, has multifunctionality, is also considered antispasmodic against smooth muscles of the gallbladder and sphincters digestive tract. It is produced by PP cells that form the islets of Langerhans.
• Amilin - has a similar effect with insulin in relation to blood glucose levels.
• The pancreatic polypeptide forms directly in the pancreas. Affects the contraction of the gallbladder and the production of gastric juice.

Insulin

Insulin is the main hormone that the pancreas produces and takes part in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

The only component produced by the body that is able to reduce and normalize the sugar content in the bloodstream.

It is a protein that includes 51 amino acids, forms 2 chains. It arises from a precursor - an inactive form of proinsulin.

With a lack of insulin, there is a violation of the conversion of glucose into fat and glycogen, diabetes appears. Toxic substances accumulate inside the body (one of which will be acetone).

Muscle and lipid cells, under the influence of this hormonal component, absorb carbohydrates in time, which enter the body with food.

They convert them into glycogen, which accumulates in the muscles and liver and becomes a source of energy.

With intense physical and mental stress, if the body feels an acute shortage of glucose, the opposite process takes place - it is released from glycogen and enters the tissues.

In addition to controlling the concentration of sugar in the bloodstream, insulin affects the production of active components of the digestive tract and the synthesis of estrogens.

Glucagon

Glucagon has the opposite effect in comparison with insulin, in terms of chemical composition it also belongs to a subgroup of polypeptides, however, it includes 1 chain, which is formed by 29 amino acids.

Glucagon is involved in the breakdown of lipids in the fat cells of the tissue, forming excess glucose in the bloodstream.

The direct relationship with insulin under the influence of glucagon normalizes the glycemic content. Therefore:

• better blood flow in the kidneys;
• the cholesterol content is adjusted;
• the likelihood of independent liver recovery increases;
• calcium and phosphorus comes back to normal.

Somatostatin

Somatostatin is a 13 amino acid polypeptide hormone of the pancreas that can suddenly reduce or completely block the body's production of:

• insulin;
• glucagon;
• somatotropin;
• adrenocorticotropic hormone;
• thyroid-stimulating hormones of the thyroid gland.

Helps suppress the synthesis of certain hormonal components that affect the functioning of the digestive organs, affects the production of pancreatic juice, reduces bile secretion, provoking the formation of dangerous pathological processes.

Somatostotin reduces organ blood flow, intestinal motility, and gallbladder contractility by 35%. In addition, it is directly related to structures in the brain: it blocks the production of growth hormone.

Vaso-intensive peptide

In addition to the cells of the pancreas, the vaginal hormonal component is produced in the mucous membrane of the small intestine and the brain.

It is considered one of the types of components from the secretin subgroup. There is an insignificant amount of this hormone in the bloodstream; the meal does not actually change its content.

The vaso-intensive peptide controls the functioning of the digestive organs and affects them:

• increases blood circulation in the intestinal walls;
• blocks the production of hydrochloric acid;
• increases the release of pepsinogen by the main gastric cells;
• increases the synthesis of pancreatic enzymes;
• activates the secretion of bile;
• inhibits the absorption of fluid in the space of the small intestine;
• has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter, provoking the formation of reflux esophagitis;
• makes the production of insulin, glucagon, somatostatin faster.

Pancreatic polypeptide

The biological role of this hormonal component is not fully understood. It is formed in the process of penetration into the stomach of food masses, which contain fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

However, with parenteral administration of medications that contain their components, the synthesis and release of the hormone does not occur.

It is believed that it saves the expenditure of pancreatic enzymes and bile between meals. Besides:

• bile secretion, production of trypsin, bilirubin slows down;
• a hypotonic gallbladder is created.

Amilin

This hormonal component is produced during the penetration of carbohydrate food into the body. It is synthesized by the same beta cells of the pancreas that form insulin.

However, the mechanism of action for sugar is different. Insulin normalizes the glucose content, which enters the tissues of organs from the bloodstream.

With its lack, the sugar content increases significantly. Amilin, by analogy with insulin, interferes with the increase in glucose concentration.

However, it works differently: it creates satiety in the shortest possible time, reduces appetite and significantly reduces the amount of food consumed, and reduces body weight gain.

This makes it possible to reduce the synthesis of digestive enzymes and slow the rise in sugar in the bloodstream.

Amylin helps to inhibit the formation of glucagon in the liver during a meal, creating an obstacle to the breakdown of glycogen to glucose and its content in the blood.

Lipocaine, Kallikrein, Vagotonin

Lipocaine normalizes lipid metabolism in liver tissues, blocks the formation of fatty degeneration.

Its effect is based on the activation of the metabolism of phospholipids and the oxidation of fatty acids, increasing the action of other lipotropic compounds.

The synthesis of kallikrein is carried out inside the cells of the pancreas, however, the transformation of such an enzyme into an active state occurs in the duodenum. Further, it exhibits a biological effect:

• antihypertensive (increased blood pressure decreases);
• hypoglycemic.

Vagotonin is able to affect hematopoiesis, helps to keep the glycemic content normal.

Centropnein and gastrin

Centropnein is an essential ingredient that helps counteract oxygen deprivation:

• helps to accelerate the synthesis of oxyhemoglobin;
• expands the bronchi;
• stimulates the respiratory center.

Gastrin, in addition to the pancreas, is capable of being produced by cells of the gastric mucosa.

It is considered one of the main hormonal components that are essential for the digestive process. He helps:

• increase the secretion of pancreatic juice;
• activate the production of pepsin (an enzyme that breaks down protein foods);
• produce a larger volume and increase the release of other hormone-active elements.

Tasks that hormones perform

In addition to the pancreas, hormones are produced by other organs. Their need inside the body is compared to nutrition and oxygen due to the influence of:

• on the development and renewal of cells and tissues;
• energy exchange and metabolism;
• regulation of glycemia, macro - and micronutrients.

Excess or deficiency of any hormone provokes pathological changes, which are often difficult to differentiate and heal.

The hormonal components of the gland are important in the functioning of the body, since they control virtually all internal organs.

Diseases that occur with functional disorders

Disorder of the endocrine functioning of the pancreas is a provoking factor in the formation of various complex pathologies, including hereditary ones.

With the improper functioning of the organ in question, which is associated with the production of insulin, a diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1) is made, and glucosuria is formed.

Such a pathological process requires most situations of insulin therapy until the end of life and the use of other medications.

It is necessary to have a blood sugar test at all times.

Therefore, it is extremely important to promptly treat emerging diseases, carry out diagnostic measures and, if unpleasant symptoms appear, seek help from doctors.

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