Noninvasive assessment of the effects of glucagon on the gastric slow wave

Hyperglycemic effects on the gastric slow wave are not well understood, and no studies have examined the effects that hyperglycemia has on gastric slow wave magnetic fields. We recorded multichannel magnetogastrograms (MGGs) before and after intravenous administration of glucagon and subsequent modest hyperglycemia in 20 normal volunteers. Normal slow waves were evident in baseline MGG recordings from all 20 subjects, but within 15 min after glucagon had been given, we noted significant effects on MGG signals. In addition to an overall decrease in the slow wave frequency from 2.9 ± 0.5 cycles per min (cpm) to 2.2 ± 0.1 cpm ( P < 0.05), we observed significant changes in the number and range of spectral peaks recorded. Furthermore, the propagation velocity determined from surface current density maps computed from the multichannel MGG decreased significantly (7.1 ± 0.8 mm/s to 5.0 ± 0.3 mm/s, P < 0.05). This is the first study of biomagnetic effects of hyperglycemia in normal subjects. Our results suggest that the analysis of the MGG provides parameter quantification for gastric electrical activity specific to and characteristic of slow wave abnormalities associated with increased serum glucose by injection of glucagon.