title: The acute metabolic effects of glucagon and its interactions with insulin in forearm tissue.
abstract: The acute effects of glucagon (mol. wt. 3500) and its interactions with insulin were studied in the forearm during eight studies in seven normal, post-absorptive males. The protocol consisted of a 2 h baseline, 1 h glucagon perfusion (mean glucagon increment, 691 +/- 50 pg/ml), 1 h perfusion of both insulin and glucagon (mean insulin increment of 105 insulin and glucagon (mean insulin increment of 105 /- 13 mU/l) and a 30 min recovery period. Simultaneous arterial (A), deep venous (DV), and superficial venous (SV) blood samples were obtained at 30 min intervals. Perfusion of glucagon resulted in a decrease in (A-DV) non-esterified fatty acids of -0.128 +/- 0.057 mmol/l (n = 7, p less than 0.05) and (A-SV) non-esterified fatty acids of -0.081 +/- 0.36 mol/l (n = 7, p less than 0.05), as well as a change in deep compartment uptake of glycerol after 60 min of -0.044 +/- 0.019 mumol/min/100 ml of forearm tissue (n=6, p less than 0.05), indicating increased lipolysis. There was also a decrease in net glucose uptake as reflected by a change in (A-Dids of -0.081 +/- 0.36 mol/l (n = 7, p less than 0.05), as well as a change in deep compartment uptake of glycerol after 60 min of -0.044 +/- 0.019 mumol/min/100 ml of forearm tissue (n=6, p less than 0.05), indicating increased lipolysis. There was also a decrease in net glucose uptake as reflected by a change in (A-Dids of -0.081 +/- 0.36 mol/l (n = 7, p less than 0.05), as well as a change in deep compartment uptake of glycerol after 60 min of -0.044 +/- 0.019 mumol/min/100 ml of forearm tissue (n=6, p less than 0.05), indicating increased lipolysis. There was also a decrease in net glucose uptake as reflected by a change in (A-DV) of -0.24 +/- 0.09 mmol/l (n = 7, p less than 0.025) and (A-SV) of 0.10 +/- 0.05 mmol/l (n = 7, p less than 0.05). There was also a net decrease in deep arteriovenous differences of potassium in six of seven subjects. Insulin levels, similar to those found after a meal, rapidly reversed the effects of glucagon on non-esterified fatty acid, glucose and potassium. These effects persisted throughout the recovery period.
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000097:blood; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D007773:Lactates; D011773:Pyruvates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D005934:Glucagon; D005990:Glycerol; D011188:Potassium