Pancreatic islets - wikipedia Pancreatic islets Not to be confused with Langerhans cells, found in the epidermis. Pancreatic islets Pancreatic islets are groups of cells found within the pancreas that release hormones A pancreatic islet from a mouse in a typical position, close to a blood vessel ; insulin in red, nuclei in blue. Details Part of Pancreas Identifiers Latin insulae pancreaticae MeSH D007515 TA A05. 9.01. 019 FMA 16016 76489, 16016 Anatomical terms of microanatomy ( edit on Wikidata ) The pancreatic islets or islets of Langerhans are the regions of the pancreas that contain its endocrine ( hormone - producing ) cells, discovered in 1869 by German pathological anatomist Paul Langerhans. The pancreatic islets constitute 1 to 2 % of the pancreas volume and receive 10 -- 15 % of its blood flow. The pancreatic islets are arranged in density routes throughout the human pancreas, and are important in the metabolism of glucose. Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Microanatomy 2 Function 2.1 Electrical activity 3 Clinical significance 3.1 Diabetes 3.2 Transplantation 4 Additional images 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Structure There are about 3 million islets distributed in the form of density routes throughout the pancreas of a healthy adult human, each of which measures an average of about 0.1 mm ( 109 μm ) in diameter. Each is separated from the surrounding pancreatic tissue by a thin fibrous connective tissue capsule which is continuous with the fibrous connective tissue that is interwoven throughout the rest of the pancreas. The combined mass of the islets is 2 grams. Islets of Langerhans can also form superstructures called islet clusters surrounding large blood vessels. The roundness of islets along the pancreas has also been quantified as an index of sphericity. Islets closest to the spherical form are mainly found in the tail of the pancreas, whereas the least - spherical islets are found in the neck of the pancreas. Microanatomy Hormones produced in the pancreatic islets are secreted directly into the blood flow by ( at least ) five types of cells. In rat islets, endocrine cell subsets are distributed as follows : Alpha cells producing glucagon ( 20 % of total islet cells ) Beta cells producing insulin and amylin ( ≈ 70 % ) Delta cells producing somatostatin ( < 10 % ) PP cells ( gamma cells or F cells ) producing pancreatic polypeptide ( < 5 % ) Epsilon cells producing ghrelin ( < 1 % ) It has been recognized that the cytoarchitecture of pancreatic islets differs between species. In particular, while rodent islets are characterized by a predominant proportion of insulin - producing beta cells in the core of the cluster and by scarce alpha, delta and PP cells in the periphery, human islets display alpha and beta cells in close relationship with each other throughout the cluster. Islets can influence each other through paracrine and autocrine communication, and beta cells are coupled electrically to six to seven other beta cells ( but not to other cell types ). A pancreatic islet, stained. A pancreatic islet, showing alpha cells A pancreatic islet, showing beta cells. Function The paracrine feedback system of the pancreatic islets has the following structure : Glucose / Insulin : activates beta cells and inhibits alpha cells Glycogen / Glucagon : activates alpha cells which activates beta cells and delta cells Somatostatin : inhibits alpha cells and beta cells A large number of G protein - coupled receptors ( GPCRs ) regulate the secretion of insulin, glucagon and somatostatin from pancreatic islets, and some of these GPCRs are the targets of drugs used to treat type - 2 diabetes ( ref GLP - 1 receptor agonists, DPPIV inhibitors ). Mouse islet immunostained for pancreatic polypeptide Mouse islet immunostained for insulin Mouse islet immunostained for glucagon Electrical activity Electrical activity of pancreatic islets has been studied using patch clamp techniques. It has turned out that the behavior of cells in intact islets differs significantly from the behavior of dispersed cells. Clinical significance Diabetes The beta cells of the pancreatic islets secrete insulin, and so play a significant role in diabetes. It is thought that they are destroyed by immune assaults. However, there are also indications that beta cells have not been destroyed but have only become non-functional. Transplantation Because the beta cells in the pancreatic islets are selectively destroyed by an autoimmune process in type 1 diabetes, clinicians and researchers are actively pursuing islet transplantation as a means of restoring physiological beta cell function, which would offer an alternative to a complete pancreas transplant or artificial pancreas. Islet transplantation emerged as a viable option for the treatment of insulin requiring diabetes in the early 1970s with steady progress over the last three decades. Recent clinical trials have shown that insulin independence and improved metabolic control can be reproducibly obtained after transplantation of cadaveric donor islets into patients with unstable type 1 diabetes. Islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes currently requires potent immunosuppression to prevent host rejection of donor islets. An alternative source of beta cells, such insulin - producing cells derived from adult stem cells or progenitor cells would contribute to overcoming the shortage of donor organs for transplantation. The field of regenerative medicine is rapidly evolving and offers great hope for the nearest future. However, type 1 diabetes is the result of the autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. Therefore, an effective cure will require a sequential, integrated approach that combines adequate and safe immune interventions with beta cell regenerative approaches. It has also been demonstrated that alpha cells can spontaneously switch fate and transdifferentiate into beta cells in both healthy and diabetic human and mouse pancreatic islets, a possible future source for beta cell regeneration. Additional images Pancreatic islets, the lighter tissue among the darker, acinar pancreatic tissue, hemalum - eosin stain. The islet density routes throughout the healthy human pancreas Illustration of dog pancreas. 250x. Structural differences between rat islets ( top ) and humans islets ( bottom ) as well as the ventral part ( left ) and the dorsal part ( right ) of the pancreas. Different cell types are colour - coded. Rodent islets, unlike the human ones, show the characteristic insulin core. See also Betatrophin Human anatomy Neuroendocrine tumor Pancreatic hormone List of human cell types derived from the germ layers References Jump up ^ Langerhans P ( 1869 ). `` Beitrage zur mikroscopischen anatomie der bauchspeichel druse ''. Inaugural - dissertation. Berlin : Gustav Lange. ^ Jump up to : Ionescu - Tirgoviste, Constantin ; Gagniuc, Paul A. ; Gubceac, Elvira ; Mardare, Liliana ; Popescu, Irinel ; Dima, Simona ; Militaru, Manuella ( 2015 - 09 - 29 ). `` A 3D map of the islet routes throughout the healthy human pancreas ''. Scientific Reports. 5. doi : 10.1038 / srep14634. PMC 4586491. PMID 26417671. Jump up ^ Barrett KE, Boitano S, Barman SM, Brooks HL. Ganong 's review of medical physiology ( 23 ed. ). McGraw Hill Medical. p. 316. ISBN 978 - 0 - 07 - 160568 - 7. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Functional Anatomy of the Endocrine Pancreas Jump up ^ Pour, Parviz M. ; Standop, Jens ; Batra, Surinder K. ( January 2002 ). `` Are islet cells the gatekeepers of the pancreas ? ''. Pancreatology. 2 ( 5 ) : 440 -- 448. doi : 10.1159 / 000064718. ^ Jump up to : Sleisenger, edited by Mark Feldman, Lawrence S. Friedman, Lawrence J. Brandt ; consulting editor, Marvin H. ( 2009 ). Sleisenger & Fordtran 's gastrointestinal and liver disease pathophysiology, diagnosis, management ( 9th ed. ). St. Louis, Missouri : MD Consult. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4160 - 6189 - 2. CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Elayat AA ; el - Naggar MM ; Tahir M ; Bassam dahrouj ( 1995 ). `` An immunocytochemical and morphometric study of the rat pancreatic islets ''. Journal of Anatomy. 186. ( Pt 3 ) ( Pt 3 ) : 629 -- 37. PMC 1167020. PMID 7559135. ^ Jump up to : Brissova M, Fowler MJ, Nicholson WE, Chu A, Hirshberg B, Harlan DM, Powers AC ( 2005 ). `` Assessment of human pancreatic islet architecture and composition by laser scanning confocal microscopy ''. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 53 ( 9 ) : 1087 -- 97. doi : 10.1369 / jhc. 5C6684. 2005. PMID 15923354. Jump up ^ Ichii H, Inverardi L, Pileggi A, Molano RD, Cabrera O, Caicedo A, Messinger S, Kuroda Y, Berggren PO, Ricordi C ( 2005 ). `` A novel method for the assessment of cellular composition and beta - cell viability in human islet preparations ''. American Journal of Transplantation. 5 ( 7 ) : 1635 -- 45. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1600 - 6143.2005. 00913. x. PMID 15943621. ^ Jump up to : Cabrera O, Berman DM, Kenyon NS, Ricordi C, Berggren PO, Caicedo A ( 2006 ). `` The unique cytoarchitecture of human pancreatic islets has implications for islet cell function ''. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103 ( 7 ) : 2334 -- 9. doi : 10.1073 / pnas. 0510790103. ISSN 1091 - 6490. PMC 1413730. PMID 16461897. Jump up ^ Kelly, Catriona ; McClenaghan, Neville H. ; Flatt, Peter R. ( 2011 ). `` Role of islet structure and cellular interactions in the control of insulin secretion ''. Islets. 3 ( 2 ) : 41 -- 47. doi : 10.4161 / isl. 3.2. 14805. Jump up ^ Wang, Michael B. ; Bullock, John ; Boyle, Joseph R. ( 2001 ). Physiology. Hagerstown, MD : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 391. ISBN 0 - 683 - 30603 - 0. Jump up ^ `` An atlas and functional analysis of G - protein coupled receptors in human islets of Langerhans. Amisten S, Salehi A, Rorsman P, Jones PM, Persaud SJ., Pharmacol Ther. 2013 May 18. PMID 23694765 Jump up ^ Pérez - Armendariz M, Roy C, Spray DC, Bennett MV ( 1991 ). `` Biophysical properties of gap junctions between freshly dispersed pairs of mouse pancreatic beta cells ''. Biophysical Journal. 59 ( 1 ) : 76 -- 92. doi : 10.1016 / S0006 - 3495 ( 91 ) 82200 - 7. PMC 1281120. PMID 2015391. Jump up ^ Meloche RM ( 2007 ). `` Transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes ''. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 13 ( 47 ) : 6347 -- 55. doi : 10.3748 / wjg. 13.6347. PMID 18081223. ^ Jump up to : Hogan A, Pileggi A, Ricordi C ( 2008 ). `` Transplantation : current developments and future directions ; the future of clinical islet transplantation as a cure for diabetes ''. Frontiers in Bioscience. 13 ( 13 ) : 1192 -- 205. doi : 10.2741 / 2755. PMID 17981623. Jump up ^ Piemonti L, Pileggi A ( 2013 ). `` 25 Years of the Ricordi Automated Method for Islet Isolation ''. CellR4. 1 ( 1 ) : 8 -- 22. Jump up ^ Chatenoud L ( 2008 ). `` Chemical immunosuppression in islet transplantation -- friend or foe ? ''. New England Journal of Medicine. 358 ( 11 ) : 1192 -- 3. doi : 10.1056 / NEJMcibr0708067. ISSN 0028 - 4793. PMID 18337609. Jump up ^ Pileggi A, Cobianchi L, Inverardi L, Ricordi C ( 2006 ). `` Overcoming the challenges now limiting islet transplantation : a sequential, integrated approach ''. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1079 ( 1 ) : 383 -- 98. doi : 10.1196 / annals. 1375.059. ISSN 0077 - 8923. PMID 17130583. Jump up ^ van der Meulen, T. ; Mawla, A.M. ; DiGruccio, M.R. ; Adams, M.W. ; Nies, V. ; Dolleman, S. ; Liu, S. ; Ackermann, A.M. ; Caceres, E. ; Hunter, A.E. ; Kaestner, K.H. ; Donaldson, C.J. ; Huising, M.O. ( 2017 ). `` Virgin Beta Cells Persist throughout Life at a Neogenic Niche within Pancreatic Islets ''. Cell Metabolism. 25 ( 4 ) : 911 -- 926. doi : 10.1016 / j. cmet. 2017.03. 017. PMID 28380380. External links `` The Islets of Langerhans '', Karolinska Institutet, Sweden Pancreas at the Human Protein Atlas Islet Society Human systems and organs Musculoskeletal Skeletal system Bone Carpus Collar bone ( clavicle ) Thigh bone ( femur ) Fibula Humerus Mandible Metacarpus Metatarsus Ossicles Patella Phalanges Radius Skull Tarsus Tibia Ulna Rib Vertebra Pelvis Sternum Cartilage Joints Fibrous joint Cartilaginous joint Synovial joint Muscular system Muscle Tendon Diaphragm Circulatory system Cardiovascular system peripheral Artery Vein Lymphatic vessel Heart Lymphatic system primary Bone marrow Thymus secondary Spleen Lymph node CNS equivalent Glymphatic system Nervous system Brain Spinal cord Nerve Sensory system Ear Eye Integumentary system Skin Subcutaneous tissue Breast Mammary gland Immune system Myeloid Myeloid immune system Lymphoid Lymphoid immune system Respiratory system Upper Nose Nasopharynx Larynx Lower Trachea Bronchus Lung Digestive system Mouth Salivary gland Tongue upper GI Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Esophagus Stomach lower GI Small intestine Appendix Colon Rectum Anus accessory Liver Biliary tract Pancreas Urinary system Genitourinary system Kidney Ureter Bladder Urethra Reproductive system Female Uterus Vagina Vulva Ovary Placenta Male Scrotum Penis Prostate Testicle Seminal vesicle Endocrine system Pituitary Pineal Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Islets of Langerhans Anatomy of the liver, pancreas and biliary tree Liver Bare area Cantlie line Ligamentum venosum Porta hepatis Round ligament Lobes of liver Caudate Quadrate Fibrous capsule of Glisson Perisinusoidal space Liver sinusoid Periportal space Portal triad Lobules of liver Liver segment Microanatomy Hepatocyte Hepatic stellate cell Kupffer cell Biliary tract Bile ducts Intrahepatic bile ducts Bile canaliculus Canals of Hering Interlobular Left hepatic duct Right hepatic duct Common hepatic duct Gallbladder Cystic duct Common bile duct Ampulla of Vater Sphincter of Oddi Cells Cholecystocyte Pancreas Gross Tail Body Neck Head ( Uncinate process ) Ducts main accessory Microanatomy Pancreatic islets Centroacinar cell Stellate cell Anatomy of the endocrine system Pituitary gland Anterior Pars intermedia Pars tuberalis Pars distalis Acidophil cell Somatotropic cell Prolactin cell Somatomammotrophic cell Basophil cell Corticotropic cell Gonadotropic cell Thyrotropic cell Chromophobe cell Posterior Pars nervosa Median eminence Stalk Pituicyte Herring bodies Thyroid Follicular cell Parafollicular cell Parathyroid gland Chief cell Oxyphil cell Adrenal gland Cortex Zona glomerulosa Zona fasciculata Zona reticularis Medulla Chromaffin cell Gonads Testicle Leydig cell Sertoli cell Ovary Theca interna Granulosa cell Corpus luteum Islets of pancreas Alpha cell Beta cell PP cell Delta cell Epsilon cell Pineal gland Pinealocyte Corpora arenacea Other Enteroendocrine cell Paraganglia Organ of Zuckerkandl Placenta Development List of human endocrine organs and actions Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pancreatic_islets&oldid=840551663 '' Categories : Pancreas anatomy Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Български Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Français Galego 한국어 हिन्दी Italiano עברית Basa Jawa Kapampangan Қазақша Latina Lumbaart Македонски മലയാളം Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська 中文 33 more Edit links This page was last edited on 10 May 2018, at 16 : 39. 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Question: where is the islets of langerhans gland located
Answer: distributed in the form of density routes throughout the pancreas of a healthy adult human