Function[edit]
The paracrine feedback system of the pancreatic islets has the following structure:[8]
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) regulates the secretion of insulin, glucagon and somatostatin from pancreatic islets,[9] and some of these GPCRs are the targets of drugs used to treat type-2 diabetes (ref GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPPIV inhibitors).