THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES ON THE GLYCOGENOLYSIS OF SURVIVING RAT LIVER THE INFLUENCE OF CORTICAL HORMONE ADDED IN VITRO¹

The effect of adrenal cortical preparations added in vitro upon the carbohydrate metabolism of liver slices. 1. The effect of adrenal cortical extract (eschatin) upon synthesis of glycogen and of total carbohydrate

“…As Long has pointed out, the steroids might intervene (a) in mobilization ofaminoacids from tissue protein; (b) in deamination of amino-acids; (c) in formation of glucose from the residues after deamination. He suggests also a further possibility based on the results of Seckel (1940): that inhibition of glycogen breakdown by excess of steroid might lead to immobilization of the carbohydrate stores and obligatory use of protein instead. This last possibility seems to be ruled out by the results of the present work, which show Seckel's effect to be due to increased synthesis of glycogen rather than to prevention of breakdown.…”

“…The amount used was 0-15 ml./ml. medium; this corresponds approximately to the amount used by Seckel (1940), who added twice this volume of an extract, 1 ml. ofwhich was equivalent to 40 g. fresh adrenal.…”

“…Biochemical Laboratory, University of Cambridge (Received 15 August 1949) It was shown by Seckel (1940) that addition of adrenal cortical extract ('eschatin', free from preservative) to buffered physiological salt solution in which liver slices were incubated caused decrease in glycogen disappearance. The incubation was carried out in air, and the 'percentage inhibition of glycogenolysis' at the end of 1 hr.…”

Treatment of Adrenal Insufficiency

“…In adrenalectomized animals the corticosterones cause: (a) an increased rate of storage of liver glycogen (4,5,6,48), even in fasting animals; (b) an increase in urine nitrogen (48); (c) a decrease in carbohydrate oxidation (63); (d) a decrease in respiratory quotient (34,63); (e) a decrease in glycogenolysis (11,56); (f) an increase in the rate of conversion of keto acids to liver glycogen (45, 46); (g) an increase in blood sugar (5,63); (h) an increase in the resistance to insulin (20,21); and (i) an increase in the workcapacity of voluntary muscle (34).…”