Effect of glucagon on gastric emptying and on postprandial gastrin and insulin release in man.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study the effect of glucagon on gastric emptying, as well as on serum concentrations of gastrin, insulin, glucose, calcium, and phosphorus after ingestion of a mixed solid-liquid meal was examined in nine normal males. An i.v. bolus of 0.5 mg of crystalline glucagon was followed by 1.5 mg infused at a constant rate over 90 minutes. The gastric emptying of a radiolabelled meal was measured with the use of a gamma camera. Glucagon evoked a marked delay in gastric emptying in all patients studied--the emptying index, Ix: 2.065 +/- 0.211 min-1 after placebo vs 0.358 +/- 0.090 min-1 after glucagon, p less than 0.01. The postprandial gastrin release was suppressed during the first 60 minutes of glucagon infusion and occurrence of the postprandial increment in the serum gastrin concentration was delayed. The integrated gastrin response did not, however, significantly change: the area under the gastrin curve, AUC0-90, 8733 +/- 1502 min.ng.l-1 after placebo vs 7434 +/- 1372 min.ng.l-1 after glucagon. A promotion of insulin release by glucagon was reflected by a significant increase in the area under the insulin curve, AUC0-90: 1842 +/- 153 min.mU.l-1 after placebo vs 3388 +/- 567 min.mU.l-1 after glucagon, p less than 0.02. Moreover, a sooner and significantly higher increase of the serum glucose level was observed during glucagon infusion when compared to the placebo situation. Glucagon did not significantly change the serum calcium level, whereas the serum phosphorus concentration was markedly lowered throughout glucagon infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes