AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 239, Issue 5 346-E353, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Hyperglucagonemia after removal of lower bowel in rats
S. S. Smith, J. C. Penhos and L. Recant
Surgical removal of the jejunum, ileum, and colon from rats (LBX) results
in greatly elevated levels of plasma immunoreactive glucagon (pIRG) 24 h
after surgery (0.98 +/- 0.07 ng/ml, n = 51 vs. 0.20 +/- 0.02 ng/ml, n = 34
in sham-operated controls). Such elevations in pIRG were not noted after
gut transection or the removal of ileum, jejunum, or colon alone, ileum
plus jejunum, or stomach plus duodenum. Coupled with the failure of adrenal
demedullation, adrenalectomy or ganglionic blockade to lower pIRG in LBX
animals, these findings suggest that surgical stress alone is an unlikely
cause for LBX-induced hyperglucagonemia. It was also shown that alpha-cells
in LBX animals retained their responsiveness to both the inhibitory effects
of somatostatin and glucose infusion as well as the stimulatory effects of
arginine infusion. Chromatography revealed a normal pattern of IRG in the
plasma of LBX animals. It is postulated that LBX-induced hyperglucagonemia
may result from the removal of an inhibitory factor present in the lower
bowel.
