Effect of Pancreatic Glucagon and Its 1-21 Fragment on Gastric Emptying in Man

Abstract

The effect of pancreatic glucagon (G) and its 1-21 fragment (G 1-21) on gastric emptying was studied in nine healthy volunteers. Gastric emptying of a 200-ml nutrient liquid meal was assessed during continuous infusion of physiologic saline, G, or G 1-21 in equimolar concentrations. The subjects were studied three times on separate days in randomized order. Gastric emptying was measured with a gamma camera technique. The emptying was diphasic in all studies, showing an initial plateau lasting 10-15 min followed by an exponential decline. During saline infusion the time necessary for 50% of the meal to leave the stomach was 32 ± 4 min, compared with 30 ±4 min and 35 ±3 min during infusion of G and G 1-21, respectively. It is concluded that glucagon and its 1-21 fragment in physiologic concentrations do not seem to participate in the control of gastric emptying of a nutrient liquid meal.

Key Words:

• Gastric emptying
• glucagon
• glucagon 1-21
• glucose
• insulin