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Book

Physiology, Glucagon

Senthil K. Venugopal, Parvathy Sankar  1 , Ishwarlal Jialal  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Physiology, Glucagon

Senthil K. Venugopal et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The recognition of glucagon as a hormone followed Unger's pioneering work reporting on its quantitation by radioimmunoassay. Unger first reported the glycogenolytic, gluconeogenic, and ketogenic effects of glucagon in dogs. Glucagon, manufactured by the alpha cells in the pancreatic islets, stimulates glucose production through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. Elevated plasma concentrations of glucagon and hyperglucagonemia contribute to the hyperglycemia of diabetes. Hyperglucagonemia also occurs in other clinical conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, glucagon-producing tumors, and after gastric bypass surgery. This brief review covers the relevant biochemistry, physiology, measurement, and clinical relevance of glucagon.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Senthil Venugopal declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Parvathy Sankar declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Ishwarlal Jialal declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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    1. Unger RH, Cherrington AD. Glucagonocentric restructuring of diabetes: a pathophysiologic and therapeutic makeover. J Clin Invest. 2012 Jan;122(1):4-12. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wewer Albrechtsen NJ, Junker AE, Christensen M, Hædersdal S, Wibrand F, Lund AM, Galsgaard KD, Holst JJ, Knop FK, Vilsbøll T. Hyperglucagonemia correlates with plasma levels of non-branched-chain amino acids in patients with liver disease independent of type 2 diabetes. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2018 Jan 01;314(1):G91-G96. - PubMed
    1. Wilcox G. Insulin and insulin resistance. Clin Biochem Rev. 2005 May;26(2):19-39. - PMC - PubMed
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