Changes in plasma glucagon after total pancreatectomy in man.

Changes in the blood glucagon reactive to 30K antibody were followed in two patients before, during, and after total pancreatectomy. The blood glucagon level was decreased six hours after the operation, and then increased gradually unless insulin was administered. The increased non-pancreas glucagon was immediately suppressed by insulin administration. The glucagon secretion response to an arginine load was already low one week after the operation, and was absent even three weeks after the operation.