This study examined the effects of hypoglucagonaemia and hyperglucagonaemia on the incorporation of 14C from [2-14 C]propionate into plasma glucose of sheep in vivo. The sheep were adult ewes fed a maintenance diet of lucerne pellets delivered in equal aliquots hourly. The irreversible loss of glucose was determined by the continuous infusion of [6-3 H]glucose. During the control period (the hour immediately preceding infusion of hormones) 63 ±2 % of the propionate was converted to glucose, accounting for 30±2 % of glucose production. Glucagon deficiency, induced by infusion of somatostatin (100 J1g/h), did not affect gluconeogenesis and the irreversible loss of glucose significantly. However, glucagon infusion at 11 ·5 ±O· 6 J1g/h significantly increased the irreversible loss of glucose, with the greatest increase occurring in the first 15 min of infusion. The 14C specific radioactivity of glucose and the fraction of glucose derived from propionate decreased significantly during glucagon infusion. The data are consistent with glucagon having a marked glycogenolytic effect initially, but little or no selective effect in promoting the utilization of propionate for glucose synthesis in vivo in sheep.

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