What role does glucagon play in glucose regulation?

What role does glucagon play in glucose regulation?

• A. It lowers blood glucose by promoting glycolysis.
• B. It prevents glucose levels from dropping too low by stimulating glycogenolysis and promoting gluconeogenesis.
• C. It inhibits hepatic glucose production.
• D. It has no significant role in glucose regulation.

Answer: (B)

Glucagon’s main function is to raise blood glucose during hypoglycemia by signaling the liver to produce and release glucose. It is released from pancreatic alpha cells when blood sugar falls and acts on hepatocytes to promote glycogenolysis, breaking down stored glycogen into glucose, and gluconeogenesis, making new glucose from noncarbohydrate sources. This hepatic glucose output prevents glucose levels from dropping too low and helps maintain energy supply during fasting or stress. It does not promote glycolysis (which would use glucose) and it does not inhibit hepatic glucose production; those would be opposite actions.

Glucagon’s main function is to raise blood glucose during hypoglycemia by signaling the liver to produce and release glucose. It is released from pancreatic alpha cells when blood sugar falls and acts on hepatocytes to promote glycogenolysis, breaking down stored glycogen into glucose, and gluconeogenesis, making new glucose from noncarbohydrate sources. This hepatic glucose output prevents glucose levels from dropping too low and helps maintain energy supply during fasting or stress. It does not promote glycolysis (which would use glucose) and it does not inhibit hepatic glucose production; those would be opposite actions.