When glucose is take up by cell such as by the liver,the liver cells store glucose as the carbohydrate glycogen.This causes blood glucose levels to fall.
As blood glucose levels fall, another hormone , glucagon, is produced by alpha cells in the islets of langerhans. Glucagon raises the amount of glucose in the blood by causing the breakdown of glycogen into the blood.
Hence, insulin and glucagon are antagonistic hormones that have opposite effects to each other as shown in Figure 5.7.
High glucose in the blood e.g. after a meal
(beta) cells release insulin
ฺฺBody cells in the liver and muscles absorb glucose
Liver converts glycogen to glucose
a(alpha)cells release glucagon
Low glucose in the blood
inhibits
Hence, insulin and glucagon are antagonistic hormones that have opposite effects to each other as shown in Figure 5.7.