Influence of prostaglandins on plasma glucagon levels in the rat.

The effect of PGE1and PGA1 intravenous infusion (2/mug/min) on plasma glucose and glucagon levels was investigated in normal, sympathectomized and propranolol-treated rats. PGE1 infusion significantly increased glucose and glucagon levels, while PGA1 had no effect. Since the dose of PGE1 used in this study was able to reduce the arterial blood pressure by about 20%, the possibility that PGE1 acted indirectly through a reflex sympathetic overactivity was tested. The increases in plasma glucagon induced by PGE1 occurred also in sympathectomized or in beta-blocked animals. Thus, it was possible to exclude a sympathetic mediation or a direct stimulation of pancreatic beta-receptors as a likely mechanism of PGE1 action.