Glucagon: An Incomplete and Biased Review with Selected References

This review summarizes the biochemistry, mode of action, physiologicfunctions, and clinical usefulness of glucagon, with emphasison its role as a mobilizer of glycogen and fat, when adequateamount of exogenous nutrients are unavailable (starvation, heavyexercise, neonatal state) or cannot be properly utilized (diabetesmellitus). The "anti-insulin" properties of glucagon and thelessons of comparative physiology are reviewed.