pancreatic hormone, any one of several chemical compounds secreted by the pancreas and associated with the regulation of cellular metabolism. Major hormones secreted by the pancreas are insulin amylin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Somatostatin is secreted by the delta cells, and pancreatic polypeptide is secreted by a group of glandular cells arranged in a halo around each islet of Langerhans. Insulin is secreted by beta cells of the islets of Langerhans; glucagon is secreted by alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans.
