Hyperglucagonaemia: effects on active nutrient uptake by the rat jejunum.

The effects of chronic (72 h) glucagon treatment on active nutrient uptake by the rat jejunum have been determined using in-vitro electrophysiological and autoradiographic methods together with an in-vivo technique which measures absorption across a cannulated segment of upper jejunum. Glucagon caused a marked increase in the potential difference across the brush border membrane from a mean value of -47.6 mV under control conditions to -54.2 mV following treatment with the hormone (P less than 0.025). A similar hyperpolarization was also noted after 24 h glucagon administration. The magnitude of the depolarization induced by the addition of D-galactose (4 mmol/l) to the mucosal fluid was increased from 6.0 to 14.3 mV following 72 h glucagon treatment (P less than 0.05). Phloridzin (0.1 mmol/l) abolished the galactose-induced depolarization in both control and treated animals. Glucagon induced significant increases of 49.9 and 61.0% respectively for glucose and galactose absorption measured under in-vivo conditions. Autoradiographic studies revealed that following glucagon treatment, L-valine uptake occurred earlier during enterocyte migration along the villus. This resulted in an enhanced accumulation of the amino acid at the villus tip. We conclude that glucagon increases nutrient transport across the small intestine. The raised electrical gradient for Na+- coupled nutrient entry into the enterocyte is likely to be a major factor in the transport response.