title: Non-beta-cell islet abnormalities in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Although there are abnormalities in the function of pancreatic alpha, delta, and PP cells in NIDDM, only in the case of the glucagon-secreting alpha cells is there sufficient evidence to indicate that these abnormalities may be metabolically important. But the cause of abnormal glucagon secretion remains to be established. Studies of delta-cell secretion have been hampered by the inability to determine the source of circulating somatostatin-like immunoreactivity and the failure to distinguish between the potential molecular species being measured. Pancreatic polypeptide remains a hormone in search of a metabolic function; the main use of its measurement may be in the study of parasympathetic nervous system function in NIDDM.
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D005934:Glucagon