Adrenergic Modulation of Pancreatic Glucagon Secretion in Man

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Abstract

In order to characterize the influence of the adrenergic system on pancreatic glucagon secretion in man, changes in basal glucagon secretion during infusions of pure alpha and beta adrenergic agonists and their specific antagonists were studied. During infusion of isoproterenol (3 μg/min), a beta adrenergic agonist, plasma glucagon rose from a mean (±SE) basal level of 104±10 to 171±15 pg/ml, P < 0.0002. Concomitant infusion of propranolol (80 μg/min), a beta adrenergic antagonist, prevented the effects of isoproterenol, although propranolol itself had no effect on basal glucagon secretion. During infusion of methoxamine (0.5 mg/min), an alpha adrenergic agonist, plasma glucagon declined from a mean basal level of 122±15 to 75±17 pg/ml, P < 0.001. Infusion of phentolamine (0.5 mg/min), an alpha adrenergic antagonist, caused a rise in plasma glucagon from a mean basal level of 118±16 to 175±21 pg/ml, P < 0.0001. Concomitant infusion of methoxamine with phentolamine caused a reversal of the effects of phentolamine.

Authors

John E. Gerich, Maurice Langlois, Claudio Noacco, Victor Schneider, Peter H. Forsham