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Glucagon effects on the human small intestine

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Abstract

In healthy volunteers, the effects of intravenously administered glucagon on small intestinal function was investigated. Bolus doses resulting in plasma glucagon concentrations of >800 pg/ml (5 min after injection) abolished jejunal contractions for 4.4±0.4 (sem) min after a latency period of 49±4 sec. During continuous intravenous glucagon infusion, jejunal dilatation and increase in mean transit time (MTT) occurred at plasma levels >720 pg/ml, while inhibition of water and electrolyte absorption was observed only with plasma glucagon concentrations of 1760±114 pg/ml. Under these conditions, the propulsion of fasting intestinal contents was slowed without change in flow rate. The observed effects cannot be attributed to the simultaneously occurring rise in plasma insulin and glucose concentrations. Short-term increases in circulating glucagon concentration inhibit intestinal tone, contractions, and propulsion with only a minor effect on water and electrolyte absorption limited to a narrow concentration range of plasma glucagon. Neither effect occurs at glucagon levels likely to occur under physiologic concentrations. The latency period preceding the abolition of jejunal contractions suggests that glucagon does not act directly on intestinal smooth muscle cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Section, Medical Service and Nuclear Medicine Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 53193, Wood (Milwaukee), Wisconsin

    Ganesh K. Patel MD, George E. Whalen MD, Konrad H. Soergel MD, Wallace C. Wu MB, BS & Robert C. Meade MD

  2. Departments of Medicine and Radiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin 53226, Winconsin, USA

    Ganesh K. Patel MD, George E. Whalen MD, Konrad H. Soergel MD, Wallace C. Wu MB, BS & Robert C. Meade MD

Authors
  1. Ganesh K. Patel MD
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  2. George E. Whalen MD
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  3. Konrad H. Soergel MD
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  4. Wallace C. Wu MB, BS
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  5. Robert C. Meade MD
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Additional information

This work was supported by the Medical Research Service of the Verterans Administration and grant #AM-12985 from the National Institute for Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

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Patel, G.K., Whalen, G.E., Soergel, K.H. et al. Glucagon effects on the human small intestine. Digest Dis Sci 24, 501–508 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01489316

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