title: Altered tissue response to glucagon in obesity.
abstract: The tissue response to exogenously administered glucagon was examined in 5 obese subjects (180 plus or minus 20 percent ideal body weight) and compared with the response in 5 normal weight controls (plus or minus 10 percent of ideal body weight). In all control subjects, glucagon (1 mug/kg) caused an increase in plasma free fatty acids and betahydroxybutyrate concentrations. In contrast, not only did the obese subjects fail to demonstrate a similar catabolic response, but 4 of the 5 obese subjects actually responded with a depression of plasma free fatty acid concentration and 3 of the 5, a decrease in betahydroxybutyrate. The potential mechanisms responsible for this defect are discussed, and it is suggested that the observation of an abnormal tissue response to a pharmacological stimulus warrants further investigation utilizing physiological lipolytic stimuli.
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon