title: Impaired alpha cell function in conditions with cortisol deficiency.
abstract: Plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG), insulin (IRI) and blood glucose (BG) were evaluated in the fasting state and during an arginine test (ATT) in 6 subjects with untreated hypopituitarism (H), in 2 hypopituitary subjects with normal cortisol production (H + C), in 3 subjects with Addison's disease (A) and in 14 normal volunteers (N). No increase in BG was observed in H and A after arginine, mean values being significantly lower than in N. Mean fasting and arginine-stimulated IRI levels were lower in H and A than in N; postabsorptive arginine-induced IRG levels were significantly reduced when compared to N. In contrast IRG levels in the two H + C patients were within the normal range. The impaired IRG production in A and in H (but not in H + C) suggests a close relationship between alpha pancreatic function and cortisol levels.
mesh_terms: D000224:Addison Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D001120:Arginine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000172:deficiency*; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon; D001120:Arginine; D006854:Hydrocortisone