THE HISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF POTASSIUM AND GLYCOGEN

Abstract

The intracellular distr. of K as revealed by the Macallum cobaltinitrite technic and of glycogen as demonstrated by Best''s carmine method was studied in the heart and liver of sheep. Fixation in alcoholic 10% formalin preserved glycogen and minimized diffusion of K across all membranes. Histochemical findings of K distr. were confirmed in tissue samples which were ashed and K detd. photometrically. At sites of heavy glycogen distr., e.g., Purkinje cells of lamb heart, K intimately invested glycogen droplets. These results are the histochemical confirmation of the biochemical studies which have demonstrated an intimate relationship between K and carbohydrate metabolism.