Secretagogue

Secretagogue is a substance that causes another substance to be secreted. One example is the Gastrin hormone, which promotes the secretion of gastric acid in the stomach. The term "secretagogue" can also refer to a drug that mediates secretion. These drugs are used in various treatments, such as those for dry mouth and dry eyes.

Types of Secretagogues[edit | edit source]

There are several types of secretagogues, each with a different function. These include:

Insulin secretagogues: These are drugs that stimulate the Beta cells in the pancreas to secrete insulin. They are used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Growth hormone secretagogues: These are drugs that stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone. They are used in the treatment of growth hormone deficiencies.

Lacrimal secretagogues: These are drugs that stimulate the lacrimal glands to produce tears. They are used in the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]

Secretagogues work by binding to specific receptors on the cells that produce the substance to be secreted. This binding triggers a series of reactions within the cell that lead to the secretion of the substance.

Side Effects[edit | edit source]

Like all drugs, secretagogues can have side effects. These can vary depending on the specific secretagogue, but may include nausea, diarrhea, low blood sugar, and allergic reactions.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Secretagogue Resources
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