Question

The hormone glucagon
A) Has the opposite effect as that of insulin
B) Is produced in the beta cells of pancreas
C) Converts glucose into glycogen
D) Is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus

Answer 1

Glucagon is a hormone secreted by the pancreatic gland that helps in maintaining blood sugar levels by converting glycogen into glucose.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Endocrine hormones secreted by pancreas helps in regulating glucose level of blood. Insulin and glucagon are the major hormones involved in maintaining blood glucose levels.
Glucagon hormone is secreted from the alpha cells of islets of Langerhans in the pancreatic gland. It stimulates the conversion of glycogen into glucose in the liver. Glucagon is used as a treatment for low blood sugar levels in blood. It is used in glycogenolytic agent class of medications. It functions by releasing stored sugar or glycogen from the liver into the main blood stream. This process of conversion of glycogen to glucose is known as glycogenolysis.
On the other hand, insulin helps in regulating high blood sugar. It works by converting glucose to glycogen. This process is known as glycogenesis. Although both these processes are metabolic processes aimed at regulating levels of blood sugar, their mode of action is contrary to each other.
Diabetes mellitus is also commonly known as diabetes only. It is the case of high blood sugar. Generally, to combat this, insulin hormone is released which converts sugar into glycogen which can then be stored or utilized as a source of energy. But in case of diabetes, the body is not capable of producing enough of this insulin hormone. So, insulin therapy is provided externally. The hormone insulin gives signals to the fat cell, muscles and liver for uptake of glucose from the blood which can then be used as an energy source.
So, the correct answer is option “A” , that is the glucagon has the opposite effect as that of insulin. Other options are incorrect as this hormone is produced in the pancreas by the alpha cell of langerhans and it helps in converting glycogen to glucose. Moreover, glycogen hormone is used as a treatment of low blood sugar, not diabetes (high blood sugar).

Option A is the correct answer.

Note: Blood sugar in the form of glucose, is the major sugar which is found in the blood of an individual. It is a source of energy derived from our daily diet. This sugar is carried by blood to all other cells of the body providing them with energy.