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Portal infusion of glucose at rates approximating endogenous glucose production (EGP) causes paradoxical hypoglycemia in wild-type but not GLUT2 null mice, implying activation of a specific portal glucose sensor. To determine whether this occurs in humans, glucose containing [3-3H]glucose was infused intraduodenally at rates of 3.1 mg. kg-1. min-1 (n = 5), 1.55 mg. kg-1. min-1 (n = 9), or 0/0.1 mg. kg-1. min-1 (n = 9) for 7 h in healthy nondiabetic subjects. [6,6-2H2]glucose was infused intravenously to enable simultaneous measurement of EGP, glucose disappearance, and the rate of appearance of the intraduodenally infused glucose. Plasma glucose concentrations fell (P < 0.01) from 90 +/- 1 to 84 +/- 2 mg/dl during the 0/0.1 mg. kg-1. min-1 id infusions but increased (P < 0.001) to 104 +/- 5 and 107 +/- 3 mg/dl, respectively, during the 1.55 and 3.1 mg. kg-1. min-1 id infusions. In contrast, insulin increased (P < 0.05) during the 1.55 and 3.0 mg. kg-1. min-1 infusions, reaching a peak of 10 +/- 2 and 18 +/- 5 micro U/ml, respectively, by 2 h. Insulin concentrations then fell back to concentrations that no longer differed by study end (7 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1 micro U/ml). This resulted in comparable suppression of EGP by study end (0.84 +/- 0.2 and 0.63 +/- 0.1 mg. kg-1. min-1). Glucose disappearance was higher (P < 0.01) during the final hour of the 3.1 than 1.55 mg. kg-1. min-1 id infusion (4.47 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.1 mg. kg-1. min-1), likely because of the slightly, but not significantly, higher glucose and insulin concentrations. We conclude that, in contrast to mice, selective portal glucose delivery at rates approximating EGP does not cause hypoglycemia in humans.

To determine if enteral delivery of glucose influences splanchnic glucose metabolism, 10 subjects were studied when glucose was either infused into the duodenum at a rate of 22 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) and supplemental glucose given intravenously or when all glucose was infused intravenously while saline was infused intraduodenally. Hormone secretion was inhibited with somatostatin, and glucose (approximately 8.5 mmol/l) and insulin (approximately 450 pmol/l) were maintained at constant but elevated levels. Intravenously infused [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose was used to trace the systemic appearance of intraduodenally infused [3-(3)H]glucose, whereas UDP-glucose flux (an index of hepatic glycogen synthesis) was measured using the acetaminophen glucuronide method. Despite differences in the route of glucose delivery, glucose production (3.5 +/- 1.0 vs. 3.3 +/- 1.0 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and glucose disappearance (78.9 +/- 5.7 vs. 85.0 +/- 7.2 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) were comparable on intraduodenal and intravenous study days. Initial splanchnic glucose extraction (17.5 +/- 4.4 vs. 14.5 +/- 2.9%) and hepatic UDP-glucose flux (9.0 +/- 2.0 vs. 10.3 +/- 1.5 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) also did not differ on the intraduodenal and intravenous study days. These data argue against the existence of an "enteric" factor that directly (i.e., independently of circulating hormone concentrations) enhances splanchnic glucose uptake or hepatic glycogen synthesis in nondiabetic humans.

Portal infusion of glucose at rates approximating endogenous glucose production (EGP) causes paradoxical hypoglycemia in wild-type but not GLUT2 null mice, implying activation of a specific portal glucose sensor. To determine whether this occurs in humans, glucose containing [3-³H]glucose was infused intraduodenally at rates of 3.1 mg·kg[sup -1] · min[sup -1] (n = 5), 1.55 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1] (n = 9), or 0/0.1 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1] (n = 9) for 7 h in healthy nondiabetic subjects. [6,6-²H[sub 2]]glucose was infused intravenously to enable simultaneous measurement of EGP, glucose disappearance, and the rate of appearance of the intraduodenally infused glucose. Plasma glucose concentrations fell (P < 0.01) from 90 ± 1 to 84 ± 2 mg/dl during the 0/0.1 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1] id infusions but increased (P < 0.001) to 104 ± 5 and 107 ± 3 mg/dl, respectively, during the 1.55 and 3.1 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1] id infusions. In contrast, insulin increased (P < 0.05) during the 1.55 and 3.0 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1] infusions, reaching a peak of 10 ± 2 and 18 ± 5 µU/ml, respectively, by 2 h. Insulin concentrations then fell back to concentrations that no longer differed by study end (7 ± 1 vs. 8 ± 1 µU/ml). This resulted in comparable suppression of EGP by study end (0.84 ± 0.2 and 0.63 ± 0.1 mg·kg[sup -1]. min[sup -1]). Glucose disappearance was higher (P < 0.01) during the final hour of the 3.1 than 1.55 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1] id infusion (4.47 ± 0.2 vs. 2.6 ± 0.1 mg·kg[sup -1]·min[sup -1]), likely because of the slightly, but not significantly, higher glucose and insulin concentrations. We conclude that, in contrast to mice, selective portal glucose delivery at rates approximating EGP does not cause hypoglycemia in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the impact of the lack of suppression of glucagon on glucose tolerance in humans. Plasma insulin, glucagon, C-peptide, and growth hormone concentrations; Endogenous glucose production; Rates of endogenous glucose production during either diabetic and nondiabetic insulin profiles.