Aim/hypothesis Hyperglucagonaemia is a characteristic of several clinical conditions (e.g. end-stage renal disease (ESRD), type 2 diabetes, obesity before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vagotomy with pyloroplasty), but the molecular nature of 'immunoreactive' glucagon is poorly characterised. The specific determination of fully processed, intact glucagon requires a 'sandwich' assay employing a combination of antibodies directed against both N-and C-termini. We compared a novel assay for intact glucagon with a highly sensitive C-terminal RIA (hitherto considered specific) to determine the extent to which the hyperglucagonaemia measured in clinical samples was caused by authentic glucagon. Methods We examined the performance of three commercial glucagon 'sandwich' ELISAs. The ELISA with the best overall performance was selected to compare glucagon measurements in clinical samples with an established glucagon RIA. ResultsThe first assay performed poorly: there was high cross-reactivity with glicentin (22%) and a lack of sensitivity for glucagon. The second and third assays showed minor cross-reactivity (1-5%) with oxyntomodulin and glicentin; however, the second assay had insufficient sensitivity for glucagon in plasma (>10-20 pmol/l). Thus, only the third assay was suitable for measuring glucagon concentrations in clinical samples. The ELISA and RIA measured similar glucagon levels in healthy individuals. Measurements of samples from individuals with abnormally high (type 2 diabetes or obese) or very elevated (post vagotomy with pyloroplasty, post-RYGB) glucagon levels were also similar in both assays. However, glucagon levels in participants with ESRD were much lower when measured by ELISA than by RIA, indicating that the apparent hyperglucagonaemia is not caused by fully processed intact glucagon.

The incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) are secreted postprandially and contribute importantly to postprandial glucose tolerance. In this study, we assessed the individual and combined contributions of endogenous GIP and GLP-1 to the postprandial changes in glucose and glucoregulatory hormones using the novel GIP receptor antagonist GIP(3-30)NH2 and the well-established GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin(9-39)NH2. During 4-h oral glucose tolerance tests (75 g) combined with an ad libitum meal test, 18 healthy men received on four separate days in randomized, double-blinded order intravenous infusions of A) GIP(3-30)NH2 (800 pmol/kg/min) plus exendin(9-39)NH2 (0–20 min: 1,000 pmol/kg/min; 20–240 min: 450 pmol/kg/min), B) GIP(3-30)NH2, C) exendin(9-39)NH2, and D) saline, respectively. Glucose excursions were significantly higher during A than during B, C, and D, while glucose excursions during B were higher than during C and D. Insulin secretion (assessed by C-peptide/glucose ratio) was reduced by 37 ± 16% (A), 30 ± 17% (B), and 8.6 ± 16% (C) compared with D (mean ± SD). A and C resulted in higher glucagon levels and faster gastric emptying. In conclusion, endogenous GIP affects postprandial plasma glucose excursions and insulin secretion more than endogenous GLP-1, but the hormones contribute additively to postprandial glucose regulation in healthy individuals.

Rapid degradation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 suggests that endogenous GLP-1 may act locally before being degraded. Signaling via the vagus nerve was investigated in 20 truncally vagotomized subjects with pyloroplasty and 10 matched healthy controls. Subjects received GLP-1 (7-36 amide) or saline infusions during and after a standardized liquid mixed meal and a subsequent ad libitum meal. Despite no effect on appetite sensations, GLP-1 significantly reduced ad libitum food intake in the control group but had no effect in the vagotomized group. Gastric emptying was accelerated in vagotomized subjects and was decreased by GLP-1 in controls but not in vagotomized subjects. Postprandial glucose levels were reduced by the same percentage by GLP-1 in both groups. Peak postprandial GLP-1 levels were approximately fivefold higher in the vagotomized subjects. Insulin secretion was unaffected by exogenous GLP-1 in vagotomized subjects but was suppressed in controls. GLP-1 significantly reduced glucagon secretion in both groups, but levels were approximately twofold higher and were nonsuppressible in the early phase of the meal in vagotomized subjects. Our results demonstrate that vagotomy with pyloroplasty impairs the effects of exogenous GLP-1 on food intake, gastric emptying, and insulin and glucagon secretion, suggesting that intact vagal innervation may be important for GLP-1's actions.