24. The endocrine pancreas and the regulation of plasma glucose
24. The endocrine pancreas and the regulation of plasma glucose
- Gillian Pocock, Gillian PocockSenior Lecturer in Clinical Science, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
- Christopher D. RichardsChristopher D. RichardsEmeritus Professor of Experimental Physiology, Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- and David A. RichardsDavid A. RichardsAssociate Professor, Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Husson University School of Pharmacy, Bangor, Maine, USA
Abstract
This chapter examines the cells of the body which have continuous access to glucose to carry out their normal metabolism, the major fuel used to produce cellular energy. It also looks at certain tissues, notably the central nervous system, the retina, and the germinal epithelium. These rely almost entirely on glucose metabolism for the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The nervous system alone requires around 110 g of glucose each day to meet its metabolic needs. The chapter discusses the concentration gradient for glucose between the blood and the extracellular environment of the brain cells that is maintained. Blood glucose levels are normally maintained between 70 and 125 mg glucose dl-1 blood despite wide fluctuations in dietary intake and regulation takes place continuously over a timescale of minutes.
