Glucagon is a form of recombinant glucagon used to treat hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus and as a part of gastrointestinal imaging procedures. Glucagon is a 29 amino acid hormone used as a diagnostic aid in radiologic exams to temporarily inhibit the movement of the gastrointestinal tract and to treat severe hypoglycemia.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 6 references
Glucagon binds to the glucagon receptor activating Gsα and Gq. This activation activates adenylate cyclase, which increases intracellular cyclic AMP and activates protein kinase A. Activating Gq activates phospholipase C, increases production of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, and releases intracellular calcium. Protein kinase A phosphorylates glycogen phosphorylase kinase, which phosphorylates glycogen phosphorylase, which phosphorylates glycogen, causing its breakdown.
Glucagon also relaxes smooth muscle of the stomach, duodenum, small bowel, and colon.
- Primary indication
- Glucagon is indicated as a diagnostic aid in radiologic exams to temporarily inhibit the movement of the gastrointestinal tract and to treat severe hypoglycemia.Curator reviewed · 4 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C165H249N49O51S1 · 3767.1 Da
- First approval
- Canada, 2001 · United States, 1999 · European Union, 2020
- Also known as
- Glucagon (recombinant dna origin) · Glucagon recombinant · Glucagon, human · Glucagon, porcine · Glucagone
- Brand names
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of July 17, 2026
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