Digestive regulators >>>> Enteroglucagon is a regulator of fat and carbohydrate metabolism

Enteroglucagon is a regulator of fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

Enteroglucagon is a hormone-like peptide of islet cells of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal cells) found in large quantities of the mucous membrane of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. Enteroglucagon belongs to the group of gastroinestinal hormones. Another name for enteroglucagon is a glucan-like peptide (Glucagon is a polypeptide - a pancreatic hormone that participates along with gastrin, secretin and cholecystokinin in insulin secretion).

The secretion of enteroglucagon is influenced by nerve impulses from the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine signals when food contains triglycerides (fats) or glucose (carbohydrates). Enteroglucagon regulates fat and carbohydrate metabolism. When fats enter the digestive tract, enteroglucagon inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, while glucagon stimulates the breakdown of fats. Two hormones, enteroglucagon and glucagon, play opposite roles in regulating digestion. Enteroglucagon inhibits the secretion of glucagon and somatostatin.

Enteroglucagon stimulates insulin secretion, secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone, corticosteroids, pituitary luteinizing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone of the hypothalamus.

Along with glucagon, enteroglucagon enhances the contractile function of the heart muscle, increases blood pressure and increases urine output. Enteroglucagon promotes the elimination of the hormone calcitonin and sodium from the body.

A feature of the hormone enteroglucagon is its secretion only at the moments of oral food intake (when food passes through the esophagus and stomach), but with parenteral nutrition (intravenous), the response secretion of enteroglucagon is not recorded. Enteroglucagon also has another feature - its secretion proceeds in two phases, at the first stage (about 30 minutes) the glucan-like peptide (enteroglucagon) participates in digestion processes along with glucagon. The second stage of hormone secretion lasts from half an hour to an hour and is associated with inhibition of digestion processes - it reduces intestinal motility, suppresses appetite.

The secretion of enteroglucagon, in addition to being directly involved in digestion processes, affects the respiratory system. So enteroglucagon relaxes the bronchial and pulmonary muscles (weakens tone) and has a mucolytic effect.