Further studies on the renal action of glucagon.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies of the action of glucagon on the renal excretion of uric acid, total nitrogen and urea nitrogen are reported. A single dose of glucagon was administered to each of 14 normal subjects and 4 patients with gout. Seven normal subjects who received glucose infusions served as controls. In addition, 2 of the patients with gout were given glucagon three times daily for several days while they were receiving a constant diet. Glucagon caused an immediate increase in uric acid excretion which persisted at least one hour. However, this increase in uric acid was not detected in 12–hour urine collections from 2 patients receiving 3 daily injections of glucagon. Evidence is presented that the immediate uricosuric effect is not secondary to the hjrperglycemic action of glucagon and that it may be due to an action on the renal tubule. Administration of glucagon resulted in a significant but small increase in total nitrogen and urea nitrogen excretions. Because these changes closely paralleled changes in ...