Key result
Glucagon withdrawal after 5 hours of infusion produced an immediate decline in glucose production from 1.8 to 0.9 mg/kg.min, demonstrating persistent biological activity despite downregulation.
Why the study?
Does continuous glucagon infusion maintain basal glucose production after initial downregulation in healthy males?
Does continuous glucagon infusion maintain basal glucose production after initial downregulation in healthy males?
Glucagon maintains a persistent biological activity on basal glucose production even after apparent downregulation.
Persistent glucagon activity after downregulation may affect glucose management interpretations; leaves open its role in prolonged metabolic states.
The rise and subsequent return to basal of glucose production (Ra) during a constant glucagon infusion ("downregulation") has suggested to some workers that glucagon's effects are evanescent. To examine whether glucagon displays persistent biological activity even after downregulation, 6 healthy males received an 8 hour infusion of somatostatin and glucagon, with 3H-3-glucose to measure glucose turnover. Ra rose from 2.8 +/- 0.3 to 4.2 +/- 0.3 mg/kg . min at 90 minutes, returned to basal levels at 150 minutes, and remained at this level for the ensuing 330 minutes. Six additional subjects received an 8 hour somatostatin infusion, with glucagon administered concomitantly for the first 5 hours. Glucagon withdrawal at 5 hours produced an immediate decline in Ra from 1.8 +/- 0.2 to 0.9 +/- 0.2 mg/kg . min. Thus, even after downregulation the maintenance of basal Ra is dependent on circulating glucagon.
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Bloomgarden et al. (1978) studied Healthy (n=12). Glucagon withdrawal vs. Continuous glucagon infusion was evaluated on Glucose production (Ra). Glucagon withdrawal after 5 hours of infusion produced an immediate decline in glucose production from 1.8 to 0.9 mg/kg.min, demonstrating persistent biological activity despite downregulation.
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