Metabolic Effects of Glucagon in the Wistar Rat

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Male Wistar rats, weighing 145 gm., were given injections of 40 µg. of glucagon every eight hours for twenty-two days. They gained 75 per cent less weight, synthesized much less protein and fat and retained less water than control animals restricted to the same amounts of food. The glycogen content of the livers from the treated animals was more than twice that found in the control animals. In glucagon-treated rats, the hyperglycemic response increased during the early phases of the investigation, but glucosuria and ketonuria never occurred. The treatment produced a transient increase in the urinary excretion of sodium and a sustained increase in the urinary excretion of nitrogen. Fecal nitrogen was not affected. It was also observed that glucagon reduced the insulin content of the pancreas. The fact that glucagon-treated rats synthesize less fat and protein than untreated control animals, consuming identical amounts of food, indicates that this hormone exerts a significant influence on caloric balance.

This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit: