Depancreatized dogs have plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG), which is of gastric origin and is immunologically indistinguishable from pancreatic glucagon. The effects of extrapancreatic IRG on the tracer-determined rate of glucose production were examined to establish whether this hormone contributes to the hyperglycemia observed in six conscious, depancreatized dogs after insulin withdrawal. The dogs were initially maintained normoglycemic with an intraportal insulin infusion. Insulin withdrawal resulted in a 53 and 70% decrease of serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) at 60 and 210 min, respectively. At 60 min, plasma glucose rose and Ra increased by 50%. A somatostatin-induced decrease in IRG prevented a further increase in Ra and glucose; after somatostatin withdrawal, IRG, Ra, and plasma glucose increased. Arginine given 1 or 3 h after insulin withdrawal increased IRG by 100 pg/ml, and mean Ra rose by 8.9 mg/kg-min. Thus, in depancreatized dogs with low but detectable serum IRI, IRG suppression is associated with inhibition of Ra and further rise in plasma glucose is prevented. Stimulation of IRG release increases Ra and results in marked hyperglycemia. It is concluded that extrapancreatic glucagon has a diabetogenic effect during acute insulin defiency.