The Vascular Order of Islet Cellular Perfusion in the Human Pancreas

Abstract

The vascular order of pancreatic islet cellular perfusion is important in the intraislet regulation of hormone secretion. Establishment of the sequence of interaction is fundamental to understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of the human islet. Intraislet insulin from the β-cell regulates both net hormone secretion and pulsatile secretion from α- and δ-cells. In terms of vascular perfusion, the δ-cell is perfused last and does not directly affect α- or β-cells in humans.