Suppression and stimulation mechanisms controlling glucagon secretion in a case of islet-cell tumor producing glucagon, insulin, and gastrin

Diabetes. 1976 May;25(5):408-12. doi: 10.2337/diab.25.5.408.

Abstract

The mechanisms controlling secretion of glucagon and other pancreatic hormones were studied in a patient affected with multihormone-secreting islet-cell tumor. Fasting glucagon levels (3,000 pg./ml.) rose to 10 ng./ml. following arginine stimulation. While oral glucose load and intravenous glucose infusion did not suppress glucagon secretion, insulin administration induced a prompt depression in glucagon levels. Glucagon, insulin, and gastrin levels were suppressed by somatostatin while calcium infusion caused a paradoxical increase. It is suggested that only some of the stimulation-inhibition mechanisms were conserved in this case of glucagon-secreting pancreatic tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arginine / pharmacology
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
  • Female
  • Gastrins / metabolism*
  • Glucagon / metabolism*
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Growth Hormone / blood
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / metabolism*
  • Somatostatin / pharmacology
  • Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
  • Gastrins
  • Insulin
  • Somatostatin
  • Growth Hormone
  • Glucagon
  • Arginine
  • Glucose
  • Calcium