Intracellular Glycogen and Electrolyte Concentrations in Human Skeletal Muscle.

Abstract

The composi-tion of human skeletal muscle was examined in 6 normal individuals. Intracellular concentrations of sodium, potassium and phosphate agreed closely with values found by earlier workers, and were as follows: sodium, 12.7 meq/kg intracellular water (ICW) potassium, 156 meq/kg ICW, and phosphate, 90.8 m[image]/kg ICW. Glycogen levels ranged from 0.528 g% in a fasted patient to 1.57 g% in a patient who had received glucose. Glycogen levels were not directly correlated with the amount of glucose given. There is some evidence (correlation coefficient of -0.776) that in the absence of exogenous supplies, potassium is not added to the intracellular water of muscle cells, whereas phosphate, even in the absence of exogenous supplies, may be (correlation coefficient of -0.027), during glycogen deposition.