[The effect of glucagon on hepatic blood flow and ICG excretion]

Loading of glucagon on mongrel dogs was performed and the following results were obtained: The effects of glucagon on hemodynamics were decrease in the vascular resistance and increase in the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery. Therefore, the blood flow of the portal vein was also increased. In the hepatic artery, glucagon also decreased the vascular resistance, when the blood flow was initially increased and then decreased. This might be attributable to the difference in sensitivity between the vascular resistance by glucagon. While administration of glucagon increased the blood flow of the portal vein, it had less effect on the vascular resistance. Though the blood flow of the hepatic tissues by hydrogen gas clearance method correlated favorably with the hepatic inflow measured with electromagnetic flowmeter, local blood flow in the hepatic tissues was not always constant in the liver and had some difference. Concerning change in local blood flow in the hepatic tissues, in low perfusion area, the blood flow was increased by low concentration of glucagon. This change in distribution of the blood flow was presumed to be caused by the portal flow. After simultaneous loading of glucagon and ICG, glucagon accelerated excretion of ICG. After simultaneous loading of glucagon and ICG on cirrhotic and control patients, accelerated excretion of ICG with time course was observed in control group. On the other hand, slightly accelerated excretion was seen in cirrhotics. It was suggested that simultaneous loading test of glucagon and ICG may be useful as a test for dynamic ability of hepatic circulation which can not be obtained by ICG loading test.