Effect of insulin on the response of gut glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) to oral glucose and food ingestion in the goose.

Gut GLI levels were measured in the plasma of normal, totally and subtotally depancreatized geese, using an antiserum specific for avian pancreatic glucagon and another one which crossreacts with intestinal extracts. Gut GLI was determined by difference between "total" GLI and immunoreactive pancreatic glucagon (IRG). Glucose given orally or a meal rich in carbohydrates elicited an elevation in plasma gut GLI. The increment of gut GLI was greater when the pancreas was removed. The over-stimulation of gut GLI was corrected by the administration of insulin. This is the first study which reports a correlation between insulin and gut GLI secretion in birds.