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Description:
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Glucagon has been repeatedly suggested as a possible putative signal peptide for the control of satiety . This suggestion is based on the observation that fasted animals injected with glucagon will not eat . Conversely , animals given glucagon antibodies experience hyperphagia and obesity . To further investigate the possible role of glucagon in appetite control , ueaned rabbits were autoimmunized using glucagon -bovine serum albumin conjugate (G -BSA ) . The control animals were immunized against bovine serum albumin (BSA ) . During the course of the experiment , weekly blood samples were analyzed for insulin , glucagon and glucose concentrations . Weekly food consumptions and body weights were also recorded . During the last week of the experiment glucose tolerance tests were performed and liver glycogen was also measured . After the third ueek of the experiment none of the animals immunized against G -BSA had any assayable blood glucagon . However , no differences in food intake , growth rates , insulin or blood glucose (both pre - and postprandial ) were evident between the two groups . Two important differences were noted . The G -BSA group had considerably more liver glycogen than the control group (5 .35^ vs . 2 .8 ? $ ; P < .025 ) . Additionally , glucose tolerance curves derived from each group were significantly different . The blood glucose concentrations of the animals treated with G -BSA were significantly lower (p < .05 ) than the concentrations of glucose in the blood of control animals . These depressed glucose concentrations were measured throughout the entire period required to reach pre -infusion blood glucose concentrations . The data do not support the possibility that glucagon is a vital hormone in the regulation of satiety . |