Delta cell

Control-of-stomach-acid-sec.png

Delta cell (or D cell) is a type of endocrine cell found in the pancreas, specifically within the islets of Langerhans. Delta cells are responsible for the production and secretion of the hormone somatostatin, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of the endocrine system.

Location

Delta cells are primarily located in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. These islets are clusters of cells that include other types of endocrine cells such as alpha cells, which secrete glucagon, and beta cells, which secrete insulin.

Function

The primary function of delta cells is to produce and secrete somatostatin. Somatostatin is a peptide hormone that inhibits the release of several other hormones. It acts as a regulatory hormone, controlling the secretion of insulin and glucagon from the pancreas, as well as inhibiting the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland.

Regulation

The secretion of somatostatin by delta cells is regulated by various factors, including the levels of glucose and amino acids in the blood. High levels of glucose and amino acids stimulate the release of somatostatin, which in turn inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon, helping to maintain homeostasis.

Clinical Significance

Dysfunction of delta cells can lead to various medical conditions. For instance, an overproduction of somatostatin can result in a condition known as somatostatinoma, a rare type of neuroendocrine tumor. This can lead to symptoms such as diabetes mellitus, gallstones, and steatorrhea due to the inhibitory effects of somatostatin on other hormones.

See also

• Pancreas
• Islets of Langerhans
• Alpha cell
• Beta cell
• Somatostatin
• Endocrine system

‎

---

Translate: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian