The effect of portal arterialization on hyperglucagonaemia in the portacaval-shunted pig

Hyperglucagonaemia after portacaval shunt may be the result of liver dysfunction because of devascularization, or portal diversion. In order to investigate the effects of devascularization, a comparison was made between a group of young pigs which had undergone a portacaval shunt (PCS) alone and a group in which the portal stump had been revascularized from the splenic artery (PCS-R). Plasma glucagon levels were elevated threefold within 4 days of the operation in PCS pigs and after 8 days in PCS-R pigs. Plasma insulin levels were higher in PCS animals on day 3, but thereafter there was no difference. These studies suggest that plasma glucagon levels rose, despite the improvement of liver function by portal arterialization, confirming the hypothesis that the hyperglucagonaemia which follows portacaval shunt is caused by hypersecretion.