Question

Young has clinical lab evidence that supports his diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency, as Felix’s serum cortisol level was extremely low.
(a) Discuss how intravenous glucagon would help treat Felix’s hypoglycemia.

(b) Given Felix’s adrenal condition and the fact that hormones such as glucagon have a limited lifespan in the body, what would you expect to happen to his blood glucose level once the effects of glucagon have subsided?

Answer 1

The drug glucagon is genetically engineered to be identical to human glucagon. Like the hormone, it stimulates adenylate cyclase to increase cyclic AMP. It increases blood glucose levels by promoting hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. It also has positive inotropic and chronotropic effects independent of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors.

Glucagon is primarily used in the management of hypoglycemia in adults, children, and pregnant women. It also has an unlabeled use as a cardiac stimulant after beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker overdose. In addition, glucagon is used to inhibit gastrointestinal motility to assist in radiologic examinations. It may also be used to help make a diagnosis of insulinoma.

When glucagon is released it can perform the following tasks:

Stimulating the liver to break down glycogen to be released into the blood as glucose

Activating gluconeogenesis, the conversion of amino acids into glucose

Breaking down stored fat (triglycerides) into fatty acids for use as fuel by cells.

If glucagon have limited life span then above function will work opposite to it.