Effect of Endogenous and Exogenous Glucagon on Pentagastrin-stimulated Lower Esophageal Sphincter Pressure in Man

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Abstract
The effect of endogenously released pancreatic glucagon on pentagastrin-stimulated lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LES-P) was studied in 10 healthy subjects. Glucagon was released by continuous i.v. infusion of L-arginine in a dose of 0.6 g/kg-h, which resulted in plasma concentrations of pancreatic glucagon comparable to those seen after a protein meal. Infusion of arginine resulted in a significant inhibition of pentagastrin (0.5 .mu.g/kg-h) stimulated LES-P. Five of the subjects had a study of the effect of exogenous glucagon in a dose of 1.6 .mu.g/kg-h on pentagastrin-stimulated LES-P. This dose of glucagon also reduced LES-P, but despite higher plasma glucagon concentrations, to a lesser degree than arginine.