Effect of intravenous glucagon on the survival of rats after acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia.

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal timing of intravenous glucagon infusion for the treatment of acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was occluded for 85 min in 106 Sprague-Dawley anesthetized rats. The animals were divided into 12 treatment groups according to the timing of glucagon and saline administration, and survival was measured to 48 hr. Without treatment, all rats died within 24 hr. Intravenous saline (10 ml/kg/hr) for 2 hr did not significantly improve 48-hr survival (17-33%). Glucagon (1.6 micrograms/kg/min iv) plus saline (10 mg/kg/hr iv) for 2 hr after SMA occlusion significantly improved survival from 33% (saline control) to 83% (P less than 0.02). The same treatment begun 1 hr before SMA release (during ischemia) did not significantly improve survival (33% at 48 hr). Glucagon infusion during occlusive mesenteric ischemia was detrimental when added to effective postischemia treatment, reducing survival from 83 to 33% (P less than 0.02). Adequate saline infusion was required for glucagon efficacy after ischemia, as shown by an intermediate 48-hr survival of 50% when only maintenance saline (1.5 ml/kg/hr) was given. These data suggest that glucagon therapy should be delayed until after operative release of an acute SMA occlusion and should be accompanied by vigorous volume expansion.