Abstract

In this presentation we will be talking about the role of pericytes in the regulation of blood flow in pancreatic islets. We will discuss why we think that pericyte-mediated control of islet blood flow is a physiological mechanism that impacts islet function and hormone levels in the circulation. We will further show some recent data supporting that this vascular control may be lost in states of disturbed glucose homeostasis, potentially contributing to endocrine cell stress and dysfunction.