Plasma oxytocin levels in response to glucagon in patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency (central diabetes insipidus) and healthy controls.

Atila C, Mekkattu S, Murugesu R, Gaisl O, Varghese N, Eckert A, Christ-Crain M

Endocrine27 Jun 2024Cited by 7 (Europe PMC)

PMID38935296PMCIDPMC11489228DOI10.1007/s12020-024-03920-2PepBankPUB-38935296

Summary

PurposeWe recently demonstrated an additional oxytocin (OT) deficiency in patients with arginine vasopressin (AVP) deficiency (central diabetes insipidus) by using 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) as a novel provocation test. However, the implication of the MDMA provocation test in clinical practice might be challenging. Glucagon effectively stimulates vasopressinergic neurons with a strong increase in plasma copeptin. We therefore hypothesized that this provocation test might also stimulate OT.MethodsThis is a predefined secondary analysis of a prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial involving ten patients with AVP deficiency and ten sex- and body-mass index-matched healthy participants at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. Each participant underwent the glucagon test (s.c. injection of 1 mg glucagon) and placebo test (s.c. injection of 0.9% normal saline). Plasma OT levels were measured at baseline, 60, 120 and 180 min after injection. The primary objective was to determine whether glucagon stimulates OT and whether OT levels differ between patients with AVP deficiency and healthy participants. The primary outcome (maximum change in OT within 180 min) was compared between groups and conditions using a linear mixed effects model.ResultsIn healthy participants, the median OT at baseline was 82.7 pg/ml [62.3-94.3] and slightly increased to a maximum of 93.3 pg/ml [87.2-121.1] after injection of glucagon, resulting in a change increase of 24.9 pg/ml [5.1-27.8]. Similarly, in patients with AVP deficiency, the median OT at baseline was 73.9 pg/ml [65.3-81.6] and slightly increased after glucagon injection to 114.9 pg/ml [70.9-140.9], resulting in a change increase of 36.8 pg/ml [-2.2 to 51.2]. The results from the mixed model showed no effect between glucagon compared to placebo on OT (difference: -0.5 pg/ml; 95%-CI [-25, 24]; p = 0.97) and no significant treatment-by-group interaction effect between patients compared to healthy participants (interaction: 28 pg/ml; 95%-CI [-7, 62]; p = 0.13).ConclusionWe found no effect of glucagon on plasma OT levels and no difference between patients with AVP deficiency and healthy participants.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

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Natural levels measured4

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther
In patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency and healthy participants, glucagon had no effect on plasma oxytocin compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn patients and healthy people, glucagon did not change the body's own oxytocin in blood compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeMaximum change in oxytocin, glucagon versus placebo
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo (saline)
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Difference
−0.5 pg/ml
glucagon vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
The results from the mixed model showed no effect between glucagon compared to placebo on OT (difference: -0.5 pg/ml; 95%-CI [-25, 24]; p = 0.97)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a predefined secondary analysis of a prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial involving ten patients with AVP deficiency and ten sex- and body-mass index-matched healthy participants at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Summary · context
Each participant underwent the glucagon test (s.c. injection of 1 mg glucagon) and placebo test (s.c. injection of 0.9% normal saline).
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3893529603
02HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther
The glucagon effect on plasma oxytocin did not differ between patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency and healthy participants.
In plain wordsGlucagon changed the body's own oxytocin in blood no differently in patients than in healthy people.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeTreatment-by-group interaction on oxytocin, patients versus healthy participants
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Healthy participants
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Interaction
28 pg/ml
patients vs healthy participants
Source sentences
Summary
no significant treatment-by-group interaction effect between patients compared to healthy participants (interaction: 28 pg/ml; 95%-CI [-7, 62]; p = 0.13)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a predefined secondary analysis of a prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial involving ten patients with AVP deficiency and ten sex- and body-mass index-matched healthy participants at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Summary · context
Each participant underwent the glucagon test (s.c. injection of 1 mg glucagon) and placebo test (s.c. injection of 0.9% normal saline).
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3893529604
03HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther
In healthy participants, median plasma oxytocin rose slightly after glucagon injection.
In plain wordsIn healthy people, the body's own oxytocin in blood rose slightly after a glucagon injection.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreasePlasma oxytocin after glucagon in healthy participants
Study
n = 10
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Median oxytocin at baseline
82.7 pg/ml
healthy participants
Maximum median oxytocin
93.3 pg/ml
healthy participants
Change increase
24.9 pg/ml
healthy participants
Source sentences
Summary
In healthy participants, the median OT at baseline was 82.7 pg/ml [62.3-94.3] and slightly increased to a maximum of 93.3 pg/ml [87.2-121.1] after injection of glucagon, resulting in a change increase of 24.9 pg/ml [5.1-27.8].
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a predefined secondary analysis of a prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial involving ten patients with AVP deficiency and ten sex- and body-mass index-matched healthy participants at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Summary · context
Each participant underwent the glucagon test (s.c. injection of 1 mg glucagon) and placebo test (s.c. injection of 0.9% normal saline).
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3893529601
04HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther
In patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency, median plasma oxytocin rose slightly after glucagon injection.
In plain wordsIn patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency, the body's own oxytocin in blood rose slightly after a glucagon injection.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreasePlasma oxytocin after glucagon in patients with AVP deficiency
Study
n = 10
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Median oxytocin at baseline
73.9 pg/ml
AVP deficiency
Median oxytocin after glucagon
114.9 pg/ml
AVP deficiency
Change increase
36.8 pg/ml
AVP deficiency
Source sentences
Summary
Similarly, in patients with AVP deficiency, the median OT at baseline was 73.9 pg/ml [65.3-81.6] and slightly increased after glucagon injection to 114.9 pg/ml [70.9-140.9], resulting in a change increase of 36.8 pg/ml [-2.2 to 51.2].
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This is a predefined secondary analysis of a prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial involving ten patients with AVP deficiency and ten sex- and body-mass index-matched healthy participants at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
Summary · context
Each participant underwent the glucagon test (s.c. injection of 1 mg glucagon) and placebo test (s.c. injection of 0.9% normal saline).
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3893529602

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Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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