Effect of glucagon administration on kidney morphology in house shrew, Suncus murinus.

Glucagon has been reported to stimulate calcitonin release and to evoke hypocalcemia (Paloyan et al., 1967a, b; Avioli et al., 1969 ; Williams et al., 1969 ; Raman, 1970 ; Hollo et al., 1979 ; Swarup et al., 1979 ; Swarup and Srivastav, 1980 ; Swarup and Tewari, 1980). It also increases urinary excretion of calcium and other electrolytes (Staub at al., 1957 ; Elrick et at., 1958 ; Charbon at al., 1963 ; Dewonck at al., 1963 ; Pullman at al., 1967). There seems to be no previous report on the effect of this drug (glucagon) on the calcium reabsorption by the kidney. The present work was, therefore, carried out to study whether administration of glucagon affects the morphology and/or calcium absorption in the kidney of house shrew, Suncus murinus.