Abstract
Summary
The hyperglycemic and glycogenolytic actions of a recently isolated vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), were compared with those of pancreatic glucagon. In intact, anesthetized dogs, 1 μg of nearly pure VIP raised plasma glucose concentration 33.5% as much as the same dose of glucagon did. The addition of VIP (0.2 μg/ml) to slices of rabbit liver incubated in vitro, stimulated glycogenolysis 56–63% as much as glucagon did. VIP may be one of the components of “enteroglucagon” or “glucagon-like immunoreactivity” known to occur in intestinal extracts. Because of its vasodilator and glycogenolytic activity, VIP may play a part in the regulation of intestinal blood flow and of sugar metabolism.
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