Previous studies comparing the effects of oral, intraportal, and peripheral venous administration of glucose in conscious dogs demonstrated a significant increase in hepatic extraction of insulin only after oral glucose, but similar hepatic uptake of glucose after oral and intraportal glucose, which was greater than that after peripheral intravenous glucose infusion. This study evaluated the effect of atropine blockade of the parasympathetic nervous system on the increased fractional hepatic extraction of insulin and the role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) on augmented hepatic uptake of oral glucose in conscious dogs with chronically implanted Doppler flow probes on the portal vein and hepatic artery, and catheters in the portal and hepatic veins and carotid artery. Since atropine infusion decreased absorption of glucose, and in order to achieve comparable portal vein levels of glucose and insulin, the dogs receiving atropine were given 1.9 +/- 0.1 g/kg glucose, compared with the control dogs who received 1.1 +/- 0.1 g/kg. The percentage of the glucose load that was absorbed was greater in the dogs not given atropine (80 +/- 4 vs. 44 +/- 7%), but because of the different loads, the absolute amount of glucose absorbed was similar in both groups (20.2 +/- 1.6 vs. 21.7 +/- 4.1 g). Although delayed by atropine, the peak portal vein glucose and insulin concentrations and the amounts presented to the liver were similar in both groups. However, the increased portal vein plasma flow and fractional hepatic extraction of insulin observed after oral glucose was not observed in the dogs infused with atropine. The net hepatic glucose uptake after oral glucose was significantly less at 10, 20, and 45 min in the atropine-treated dogs, and the area under the curve over the 180-min period was 44% less. However, the latter was not statistically significant. Infusion of GIP with peripheral intravenous glucose did not increase hepatic uptake of glucose or the fractional hepatic extraction of insulin compared with peripheral intravenous glucose alone. These results indicate an important role for parasympathetic innervation in the augmented fractional hepatic extraction of insulin, and increased portal vein plasma flow after oral glucose. Although a relationship between the augmented fractional extraction of insulin and the net hepatic glucose uptake may exist, it does not necessarily indicate that the former is required for the latter. Such parasympathetic innervation may be involved in the greater removal of glucose by the liver after oral compared with peripheral glucose administration. The augmented hepatic uptake of glucose and fractional hepatic extraction of insulin after oral glucose doesn not appear to be mediated by gastric inhibitory polypeptide.