Effect of glucagon-(1-21)-peptide on gastroduodenal motility during upper gastrointestinal examination. Randomized trials.

The inhibitory effect of glucagon-(1-21)-peptide on the motility of the stomach and duodenum during radiologic double contrast studies was examined. In a randomized trial of equimolar doses of glucagon and glucagon-(1-21)-peptide on 70 patients, glucagon-(1-21)-peptide showed to have a significantly weaker effect than glucagon. Glucagon caused significant increases in plasma-glucose and plasma-insulin, while glucagon-(1-21)-peptide had no such effects. In a subsequent randomized study on 75 patients glucagon-(1-21)-peptide in various doses was tested against placebo. The effect was insignificant from that of placebo at practically all dose levels. No side effects were registered. It is concluded, that glucagon-(1-21)-peptide probably has a certain relaxing effect on the smooth muscle of the stomach and duodenum, but that this effect is too small for practical clinical use.