title: Metabolic effects of graded glucagon infusions in man: inhibition of glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin response to arginine.
abstract: Insulin inhibits its own release (autofeedback), and growth hormone (GH) inhibits the GH response to a variety of stimuli. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether glucagon (G) can modify pancreatic G (IRG) release in humans. Seven healthy men received intravenous (i.v.) arginine (30 g in 30 minutes) 240 minutes after the beginning of a 0.9% NaCI saline infusion and a 2.5-, 4.0-, and 8.0-ng/kg.min-1 porcine G infusion, with each infusion lasting 360 minutes. All G infusions yielded stable and dose-related plasma IRG levels, and the 4.0- and 8.0-ng/kg.min-1 G infusions decreased plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and blood glycerol and beta-OH-butyrate levels and elicited insulin (IRI) release, and the 8.0-ng/kg.min-1 G infusion elicited GH release and increased blood glucose (BG) levels; somatostatin (SRIF) levels were not affected by G infusions. At 240 minutes, plasma IRG levels were higher during G infusion than during saline infusion, whereas serum IRI and BG levels had returned to preinfusion levels. At this point, G infusions decreased the integrated (240 to 300 minutes) IRG, IRI, BG, and SRIF responses, but not the GH response to arginine. These data indicate that prolonged G infusions decrease the IRG response to arginine; in addition, G decreases plasma FFA levels, and higher G doses stimulate IRI release and exert a self-limited hyperglycemic effect. The fact that the IRI response to arginine was decreased by G could be due to a refractoriness of beta cells to subsequent stimuli; the decreased SRIF response to arginine is likely due to G itself or to a decrease of plasma FFA levels.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pontiroli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Perfetti
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fattor
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozza
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005934:Glucagon; D001120:Arginine; D005990:Glycerol; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid