Biliary response to glucagon in humans

Abstract

Glucagon has been demonstrated to have profound effect on biliary secretion in several species. Glucagon's biliary effects were studied in humans following biliary tract surgery. Nine patients underwent common bile duct exploration and insertion of a balloon-occludable t tube. An aliquot of the collected sample was kept and the enterohepatic circulation was maintained by reinfusion of the collected bile via the distal t-tube port. Glucagon increased bile flow and decreased cholesterol and phospholipid output during stable bile acid output. Furthermore high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of bile acid profiles revealed no significant changes in bile salt species or conjugation after glucagon infusion. Glucagon is probably important in the physiologic regulation of biliary secretion in humans.