Abstract
Although arginine-induced hyperglucagonemia has been observed in diabetics and in patients with Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism, the influence of treatment on arginine-stimulated glucagon levels in these diseases is still obscure. In the present study, in order to throw some light on this problem, arginine-induced glucagon levels in these diseases were examined before and after treatment.
In diabetics, the hyperresponse of glucagon to arginine was significantly decreased by treatment with insulin or sulfonylureas. However, glucagon levels after treatment were found to be still relatively excessive with respect to concomitant glucose levels.
Excessive glucagon response to arginine as observed in Cushing's syndrome was normalized after adrenalectomy.
In the case of hypothyroidism excessive glucagon response to arginine was also normalized with treatment.
These results suggest that abnormal glucagon secretion seems to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. But this could be partially due to the consequences of the disordered metabolic state induced by the lack of insulin. On the other hand, arginine-induced hyperglucagonemia found in patients with Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism may be a simple consequence of the disturbed metabolic state of these diseases.
