Glucagon and Gastrointestinal Motility in Relation to Thyroid-Parathyroid Function

Abstract

Gastrointestinal propulsive motility was studied after intragastric deposition of a non-absorbable isotope in rats after subcutaneous glucagon injections. Glucagon administration was followed by retardation of gastric emptying. The results indicated that the retarding effect of glucagon on gastrointestinal propulsion was independent of the presence of both thyroid and parathyroid tissue. The hypocalcemic effect of glucagon was exerted independently of the presence of thyroid tissue, i.e. thyrocalcitonin.