Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A hormone produced by the pancreas that stimulates an increase in blood sugar levels, thus opposing the action of insulin.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry A hormone, produced by the pancreas, that opposes the action of insulin by stimulating the production of sugar

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a hormone secreted by the pancreas; stimulates increases in blood sugar levels in the blood (thus opposing the action of insulin)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably gluc(o)– + Greek agōn, present participle of agein, to lead, drive; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

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Examples

  • We have found in a previous study with rats that the fibre increases the levels of a satiety hormone called glucagon-like peptide GLP-1 in the body and increases a gene in the intestines that helps the body to create more GLP-1.

    Speedlinking 2/6/07 William Harryman 2007

  • He discovered a new hormone called glucagon-like peptide one GLP-1, which scientists eventually realized lowers blood sugar only when it gets too high.

    Merck Starts Diabetes Race 2006

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    BusinessWeek.com -- 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon that counteracts the effects of too much insulin and helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

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