Stimulation of glucagon and insulin secretion by acetylcholine infused intrapancreatically.

Acetylcholine infused at a dose of one µg/kg/min for 10 min into the cranial pancreaticoduodenal artery of anesthetized dogs caused a prompt elevation of plasma levels of both immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) and insulin (IRI) in the cranial pancreaticoduodenal vein. Mean pancreatic venous plasma concentration of IRG showed an uniphasic increase during the infusion, and IRI, a biphasic augmentation. A delayed rise in plasma IRG and IRI was observed in the femoral artery, and a significant increase in the blood glucose level followed the administration. The elevation of plasma IRG and IRI during infusion of acetylcholine was inhibited by prior local infusion of atropine at a dose of 3 µg/kg/min for 9 min. Simultaneous measurement of pancreatic vein blood flow and hormone concentrations revealed a rapid increase of the flow along with the concentrations of both hormones during infusion of acetylcholine, indicating a great augmentation in their output. These results suggest a role of the parasympathetic nerves ...