In: Biology
The pancreatic hormones insulin and glucagon are involved in homeostasis of glucose in bloodstream and they maintains the blood glucose level by opposing and balancing activity.
When blood glucose level becomes low, it triggers the release of glucagon from the alpha cells of the pancreas islet of Langerhans. Then, glucagon acts upon hepatic cells for glycogenolysis for elevating the blood glucose level. The glucagon is also involved in hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis to increase the endogenous blood glucose level in case of very low glucose condition in the body.
When exogenous blood glucose level rises, it triggers the release of insulin from the beta cells of the pancreas islet of Langerhans. Then, insulin acts upon muscle and adipose tissue and causes insulin dependent uptake of increased glucose molecules and reduces the blood glucose level. Therefore, insulin acts as anabolic hormones and performs glycogenesis, lipogenesis and maintains the blood glucose level.