Effects of fasting and theophylline on alanine-stimulated glucagon secretion in neonatal and infant sheep

Plasma concentrations of glucose, alanine, and glucagon were measured after 24 hour fasting in newborn and infant sheep and in response to infusion of alanine alone and concurrently with theophylline. The plasma glucagon response to alanine was minimal in newborn sheep; in contrast, alanine produced a brisk response in plasma glucagon concentration in infant sheep. Glucose concentrations were unchanged in both groups. Theophylline enhanced blood glucagon and glucose responses to alanine in newborn animals but had minimal effects on the response of the infant sheep. These data, considered with earlier data in fetal sheep, suggest a progressive maturation of pancreatic islet alpha-cell glucagon secretion in the sheep during the postnatal period and suggest that the blunted glucagon response observed in the neonate is related to immaturity of the glucagon secretion mechanisms rather than deficient synthesis of the hormone. This immaturity may be related to impaired synthesis and/or enhanced degradation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or to diminished responsiveness to cAMP.