Aims/hypothesis Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are two peptides that function to promote insulin secretion. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors increase the bioavailability of both GLP-1 and GIP but the dogma continues to be that it is the increase in GLP-1 that contributes to the improved glucose homeostasis. We have previously demonstrated that pancreatic rather than intestinal GLP-1 is necessary for improvements in glucose homeostasis in mice. Therefore, we hypothesise that a combination of pancreatic GLP-1 and GIP is necessary for the full effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on glucose homeostasis. Methods We have genetically engineered mouse lines in which the preproglucagon gene (Gcg) is absent in the entire body (GcgRA ΔNull) or is expressed exclusively in the intestine (GcgRA ΔVilCre) or pancreas and duodenum (GcgRA ΔPDX1Cre). These mice were used to examine oral glucose tolerance and GLP-1 and GIP responses to a DPP-4 inhibitor alone, or in combination with incretin receptor antagonists. Results Administration of the DPP-4 inhibitor, linagliptin, improved glucose tolerance in GcgRA ΔNull mice and control littermates and in GcgRA ΔVilCre and GcgRA ΔPDX1Cre mice. The potent GLP-1 receptor antagonist, exendin-[9-39] (Ex9), blunted improvements in glucose tolerance in linagliptin-treated control mice and in GcgRA ΔPDX1Cre mice. Ex9 had no effect on glucose tolerance in linagliptin-treated GcgRA ΔNull or in GcgRA ΔVilCre mice. In addition to GLP-1, linagliptin also increased postprandial plasma levels of GIP to a similar degree in all genotypes. When linagliptin was co-administered with a GIP-antagonising antibody, the impact of linagliptin was partially blunted in wild-type mice and was fully blocked in GcgRA ΔNull mice. Conclusions/interpretation Taken together, these data suggest that increases in pancreatic GLP-1 and GIP are necessary for the full effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on glucose tolerance. Keywords DPP-4 inhibitor. GIP. GLP-1. Glucose homeostasis. Incretin Abbreviations DPP-4 Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 Ex9 Exendin-[9-39] GcgRA ΔNull Gcg null mouse model GcgRA ΔPDX1Cre Mouse model with Gcg reactivated in the pancreas GcgRA ΔVilCre Mouse model with Gcg reactivated in the intestine GIP Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide GIPrAB GIP receptor-antagonising antibody GLP-1 Glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1R GLP-1 receptor PDX1 Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 PDX1Cre Wild-type littermate of GcgRA ΔPDX1Cre VilCre Wild-type littermate of GcgRA ΔVilCre Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (