The metabolic and hormonal response to glucagon: Part 1. Normal subjects

Abstract

Significant increases in mean plasma noradrenaline levels were observed 30–60 min and 150–180 min after a subcutaneous injection of 1 mg glucagon. The first peak coincided with the maximum blood glucose and plasma insulin levels and the second peak occurred after plasma growth hormone (GH) and cortisol levels had begun to rise. The first plasma noradrenaline peak may be important in inhibiting further insulin secretion. There was no evidence that glucagon stimulates adrenaline secretion in normal human subjects. It was also confirmed that there are significant increases in the levels of glucose, insulin, GH and cortisol and a significant decrease in FFA levels following subcutaneous injection of glucagon in normal human subjects.