The effects of glucagon on exocrine pancreatic secretion in the pancreatoduodenectomized man

Abstract

The effects of glucagon on the exocrine pancreatic secretion were studied in five pancreatoduodenectomized subjects, using the pancreatic juice obtained from pancreatic duct drainage. Under the background infusion of secretin, glucagon did not show an inhibitory effect on water and electrolyte secretion of pancreas but showed marked depression in enzyme secretion. Maximal percent decrease in enzyme output was 70-80% of the control level after the single injection of 2mg glucagon and 15-45% after the 3mg glucagon injection. The inhibitory effect appeared immediately after the administration of glucagon and its duration continued for an hour approximately. Elevation of blood sugar in the cases studied was remained below 200mg/dl.
The effects of hypertonic glucose infusion were also studied additionally for the comparison with glucagon injection. The moderate depression in enzyme output, marked increase in blood sugar and slight elevation of plasma osmotic pressure were observed. From the results obtained, it was suggested that the effect of glucagon on the exocrine pancreatic secretion was direct action to the pancreas and this was not the inhibition to the synthesis of enzyme but to the enzyme release from the gland.
And the possible application of glucagon to the acute pancreatitis, together with its therapeutic dose, was discussed.