Insulin and the brain
Mary ET Boyle, Ph. D.Department of Cognitive Science
UCSD
1921 Banting & Macleod
Nobel Prize1923
White, M. F. (2003) Science
Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L. and Stryer, L. (2007) Biochemistry 6 Ed.; WH Freeman, NY
Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L. and Stryer, L. (2007) Biochemistry 6 Ed.; WH Freeman, NY
Pancreas basics
splenic vein
Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY; http://teachmeanatomy.info/
pancreatic duct
exocrine ‐ acinus
δ‐cellssomatostatin
β‐cellsinsulin& amylin
α‐cellsglucagon
F‐cellspancreatic polypeptide
ε‐cellsghrelin
Cell Hormone Function
α‐cells(15%)
glucagon stimulate gluconeogenesis and release of glucose into blood stream
β‐cells(75%)
insulin & amylin responsible for decreasing blood glucose levels and satiety (insulin 100:amylin 1)
δ‐cells(5%)
somatostatin inhibition of insulin and glucagon secretion
ε‐cells(<1%)
ghrelin stimulating appetite hormone
F‐cells(<5%)
pancreatic polypeptide
self‐regulate exocrine and endocrine pancreatic secretions
Cell types in the islets of Langerhans:
Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L. and Stryer, L. (2007) Biochemistry 6 Ed.; WH Freeman, NY
Insulin and glucagon are complementary
Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY
Insulin reduces blood glucose levels by activating glucose transporters (GLUT) enabling the uptake of glucose in:
β‐cells
Glucose sensor (GLUT2)
insulin
Glucose transporter(GLUT4)
Insulinreceptor
Cell metabolism
Glycogensynthesis
Glycogensynthesis
Proteinsynthesis
Fatty Acidsynthesis
Glycerol
Triglycerides
High levels of glucoseIn blood
Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY
Tissue Distribution of glucose transporters
Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L. and Stryer, L. (2007) Biochemistry 6 Ed.; WH Freeman, NY
Actions of glucagon:
Low levels of glucose in blood
Detect glucose levels
Glycogentree
Glucagonreceptors
After glucagon binds to its receptors on the liver cells,
There is an increase in cyclic‐AMP within hepatocytes.
cAMP activates a cascade of enzymes degrading glycogen into
glucose.
Glycogenolysis = breakdown of glycogenGluconeogenesis = synthesis of glucose from amino acids in the liver
glycogen phosphorylase
Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY
Glucose Tolerance Test:
Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY
Insulin deficiency
Glucose entry is blocked
Cells utilize their own stores of glycogen
Fat
Protein
Excessive fatty acid utilization leads to formation of ketone
bodies by liver
proteinglycogen
fat
Ketone bodies Hyperphagia
Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY
Kidney tubules cannot reabsorb the excess filtered glucose.
The extra glucose spills over in urine
(glycosuria)
The excess glucose causes osmotic diuresis (polyuria). Polyuria reduces plasma water, leading to excessive
thirst (polydipsia).
KetonuriaPolyuria
Glycosuria Images adapted from: Kapit. W. et al., (1987) The Physiology Coloring Book, Harper Collins, NY
Historically, there was little interest in insulin and the brain because:
Begg, D. P and Woods, S. C. (2013) Adv Physiol. Educ 37: 53‐60
“unlike [skeletal muscle], the brain does not require insulin to
take up glucose
brain was considered to be
insulin independent
insulin was considered too large to cross the blood brain barrier”
Innervation of islet of Langerhans“From the large nerve trunk at one pole of the islet emerges the peri‐insular plexus, the peri‐insular ganglia (p.i.g.), and the “neural terminal” net in and around the islet.
The neural terminal is said to be composed of nerve fibers and interstitial Cajal’s cells (in black).
Part of the islet has been excised to show the interior structure of the islet. c capillary, 800.”
Image adapted from Honjin, 1956; courtesy of John Wiley & Sons, Inc) Durant, s. et al (2003) LABORATORY INVESTIGATION, Vol. 83, No.
Nervous system divisions:
Nervous system
Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Enteric nervous system
Slowly activated dampening system
Autonomic Nervous System Control of insulin release:
parasympatheticceliac
ganglion
Lateral hypothalamus
Ventromedial hypothalamus
Sympathetic
Para sympathetic
superior mesenteric ganglion
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29
parasympathetic
sympathetic
sensory
isletsB
F
A
D
Insulin/Amylin
Glucagon
Pancreatic Polypeptide
Somatostatin
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
Parasympathetic nerve input:
AChGRPPACAPVIP
B F A D
ACh: acetylcholineGRP: gastrin releasing polypeptide VIP: vasoactive intestinal polypeptidePACAP: pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
ACh: acetylcholineGRP: gastrin releasing polypeptide
VIP: vasoactive intestinal polypeptidePACAP: pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide
Parasympathetic nerve input: B F A D
ACh –insulin release
VIP & PACAP –glucose dependent insulin release
GRP – may be involved in neuroregulation
βGLUT2
Vagus Nervestimulation
ACh – releases:glucagonsomatostatin
α,δ
PP – is released by para‐sympathetic activity
F
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
Sympathetic nerve input:
NANPYGalanin
B F A D
NPY: Neuropeptide YNA: Noradrenalin
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
NA: NoradrenalineNPY: Neuropeptide Y
Sympathetic nerve input: B F A D
NA –inhibits glucose dependent insulin release
NPY & Galanin–inhibit insulin release
βsplanchnic nerve
stimulation
NA– releases glucagonand PP
α,F
NA – inhibits somatostatinrelease
δ
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
Other & sensory nerve input:
Sensory nerve CGRPSP
B F A D
CCK: cholecystokininNO: nitric oxideSP: Substance PCGRP: Calcitonin gene‐related polypeptide
Other nerveCCKNO
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
CGRP: Calcitonin Gene‐related peptideSP: Substance P
Sensory nerve input: B F A D
CGRP–inhibits insulin release
CGRP – involved with Amylin
SP – reported to increase and decrease insulin secretion
β
Sensory nerve stimulation
CGRP–stimulates glucagon release
α
CGRP is thought to exert a tonic inhibition of insulin secretion.Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
CCK: CholecystokininNO: Nitric Oxide
Other nerve input: B F A D
CCK–stimulates insulin release
NO– inhibition of NO‐synthase inhibits insulin release (mice)
Entero‐pancreatic neuroregulation from the duodenum
β
Other nerve stimulation
Kiba, T (2004) Pancreas, Vol 29 ; Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
Ahren, B. (2000) Diabetologia 43: 393–410
Kiba, T. Pancreas • Volume 29, Number 2, August 2004