The vascular architecture of the pancreatic islets: A homage to August Krogh

The vascular network supporting the islets of Langerhans represents a highly specialised system arterioles, capillaries and venules. Several features islet vasculature (density fenestration capillaries) ensure rapid exchange nutrients hormones, which is central to islets' capacity control systemic metabolism via reciprocal changes insulin glucagon secretion. Here we discuss how in blood flow may underlie pulsatile secretion, becomes impaired type-2 diabetes. Improved understanding architecture regulation pancreas/islet therefore illuminate causes underlying this common metabolic disorder. pioneering work August Krogh on flow, oxygen diffusion capillary anatomy (that was awarded with Nobel Prize 1920) cornerstone these efforts remains relevant today's research.