Glucagon and Pheochromocytoma

Excerpt

Glucagon's scientific birth was a lowly one, that of a troublesome contamination of early insulin preparations. In recent years it has been redeemed by recognition of its ubiquitous role, both real and perhaps fashioned, in the physiologic processes of man and other animals. Intrigued by the many modes of action attributed to glucagon, yet still uncertain of its true role in man, the scientific community has enthusiastically touted both its therapeutic and diagnostic potentialities, including its usefulness as a provocative agent in patients with pheochromocytoma.

It is easily demonstrated that glucagon is acutely glycogenolytic and that it sparks intrahepatic gluconeogenesis.