Increased plasma glucagon-like immunoreactivity in dogs with ileojejunal transposition

To elucidate hormonal and metabolic changes in intestinal adaptation, an experimental study was performed in dogs subjected to ileojejunal transposition. Fasting levels of blood glucose, plasma insulin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) did not change significantly throughout 12 weeks. Plasma glucagon measured with an antiserum specific to the C-terminal portion of glucagon slightly increased and plasma total glucagon measured with a non-specific antiserum gradually increased. Glucose tolerance deteriorated at the 4th week in the transposed group. The response of plasma insulin and GIP to glucose in the transposed group did not differ from that of the sham operated group. Plasma glucagon increased significantly during glucose loading at the 12th week. The response of plasma total glucagon to glucose was most prominent, reaching a peak of 3,755 +/- 742 pmol/liter. The value was significantly increased, compared with that of the sham group or normal group (p less than 0.01). Insulin-induced hypoglycemia enhanced a larger increment of plasma total glucagon in the transposed group than in the sham group (p less than 0.05). At the 12th week plasma total amino acids were decreased and several amino acids were reduced. It is concluded that ileojejunal transposition elicited an exaggerated response of plasma total glucagon to glucose and several metabolic derangements and that the transposition offers an excellent model for hyperenteroglucagonemia.