Oscillations, Intercellular Coupling, and Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic β Cells
Figure 1
Pancreatic Endocrine Tissue Comprises 1%, or Less, of the Pancreas and Is Organized as Clusters of Cells Dispersed throughout the Exocrine Pancreas
These cell clusters, the islets of Langerhans, are heterogeneous and composed of three main cell types that secrete distinct hormones. The majority of islet cells comprise insulin secreting β cells and act as glucose sensors, releasing insulin in response to increased circulating glucose. The mechanism controlling regulated insulin secretion from β cells is shown in the right panel.