Possible Role of Glucagon in Pathogenesis of Acute Pancreatitis

Plasma glucagon in acute and chronic pancreatitis

“…In general, plasma glucagon concentration has been found to increase during experimental pancreatitis in dogs [20] and acute pancreatitis in humans [9][10][11][12]. An acute fall in plasma glucagon concentration has been described in connection with deterioration during an attack of acute pancreatitis, and in a small number of patients a correlation was observed between low plasma glucagon and elevated serum amy- lase concentrations [9]. On the other hand, Donovitz et al [ 10] were unable to find any correlation between a rise in pancreas enzyme concentration and plasma glucagon concentration in acute pancreatitis.…”

“…Lankisch et al [27] found no effect of glucagon on the mortality rate of acute pancreatitis, but observed a decrease in serum lipase and amylase concentrations. Knight et al [9] and Waterworth et al [28] reported a beneficial effect of glucagon in experimental animals.…”

“…Experiments have shown that pharmacologic doses of glucagon increase the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery and reduce the exocrine secretion from the pancreas, and this is supposed to have a beneficial effect [7,8]. Some authors have described a fall in plasma glucagon concentration during exacerbations of acute pancreatitis [9], while Reprint requests: Ame Schmidt, M.D., Ph.D., K0benhavns Kommunehospital, 1. afdeling, Copenhagen, Denmark.…”

Automated estimation of time of death in rats by continuous temperature recording

“…Some workers have relied on the 24 h survival to determine the efficacy of potential chemotherapy (Lankisch, Winckler, Bokermann, Schmidt & Creutzfeldt, 1974), while others, using smaller numbers of animals, have provided constant supervision (Knight, Condon & Day, 1972). There has beennopreviousdescription of a fully-automated method for determination of the time of death in small laboratory animals.…”

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Diabetes Mellitus

“…Those patients who developed diabetes mellitus were less than 35 yr old, did not require insulin therapy, and had abnormally low and delayed insulin responses after oral glucose intake. Knight and co-workers 90 reported high serum glucagon levels during the 24 h immediately following an attack of acute pancreatitis, with such values falling rapidly thereafter. Hyperglycemia has been found in 10%-79% of patients experiencing an episode of acute pancreatitis.…”