Endocrine function of the pancreas in cystic fibrosis: evidence for an impaired glucagon and insulin response following arginine infusion.

Pancreatic glucagon and insulin were determined in 10 children with cystic fibrosis 
(C.F.) and in a control group following stimulation by an arginine 
infusion. In controls the infusion of arginine induced a prompt threefold 
elevation in plasma pancreatic glucagon and about a sixfold increase in 
plasma immunoreactive insulin. In patients with C.F. the average response of 
both hormones was considerably less, and the base-line concentrations for glucagon 
were lower. The data support the hypothesis that in C.F. both 
alpha- and beta-cell function are affected as a result of the 
underlying process. 