Response of gut glucagon-like immunoreactivity to hypoglycemia in dogs

Previous studies demonstrated that insulin-induced hypoglycemia enhances glicentin secretion in piglets and prompted us to investigate the response of glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) to hypoglycemia in dogs. Insulin hypoglycemia did not induce any rise of plasma total immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) measured by nonspecific antiserum to glucagon in normal or pancreatectomized dogs under anesthesia. In contrast, insulin-induced hypoglycemia clearly increased plasma total IRG in both normal and pancreatectomized dogs in a conscious state. Administration of acetylcholine resulted in an elevation of plasma total IRG, whereas epinephrine induced a slight increase in plasma total IRG. The infusion of alpha- or beta-adrenergic blockers did not affect the response of plasma total IRG to hypoglycemia, whereas atropine completely blunted the increase in plasma total IRG during insulin hypoglycemia. Similarly atropine abolished the rise of plasma total IRG during intravenous administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose. It is concluded that hypoglycemia clearly enhances the secretion of GLI from the gut in dogs and that GLI secretion during hypoglycemia is modulated, at least in part, by the autonomic nervous system.