Hyperglucagonemia has been reported during
endotoxemia. Increases in plasma
glucagon concentration may serve as an important mediator and be influential in modifying metabolism during
endotoxin shock. Increases in the plasma concentration of
glucagon are brought about by both pancreatic and gastrointestinal release of
glucagon during
endotoxemia. The purpose of the present study was to determine the importance of gastrointestinal-derived
glucagon (
glucagon-like immunoreactivity; GLI) during
endotoxin shock. LD100
endotoxin (3.0 mg/kg) was injected via the auricular vein into fasted rabbits. Emphasis was focused on total
glucagon and gastrointestinal
glucagon (GLI) concentrations, but measurements of these parameters were supplemented by determinations of
glucose and
triglyceride. The results were as follows: 1) gastrointestinal
glucagon concentration increased threefold over that of pancreatic
glucagon concentration and 27-fold over that of the control group at 6 hr after
endotoxin administration and 2) significant increases of both serum
glucose and
triglyceride concentrations were observed after
endotoxin was injected. Findings suggest that gastrointestinal
glucagon may be one of the factors responsible for evoking the abnormal metabolism caused by
endotoxin shock. In hyperglucagonemia resulting from
endotoxemia, it is suggested that attention should be paid not only to the
glucagon originating from the pancreas but also to that derived from the intestine.