The resynthesis of glycogen by guinea pig cerebral-cortex slices

Abstract

Resynthesis of glycogen by surviving slices of guinea pig cerebral cortex was demonstrated, and synthesis found to depend on the conditions under which the slices were incubated. Glycogen was resynthesized to a maximum level of about 3 [mu]moles glucose/g moist tissue and, under the conditions used, the rate of resynthesis was much slower than that of post-mortem break-down, being about 1 [mu]mole glucose/g moist tissue per hour. Evidence from qualitative color tests with I2 and anthrone and from fermentation experiments supports the conclusion that the material resynthesized was glycogen. The rate or amount of glycogen resynthesis was not affected by wide variation in phosphate concentration. Of agents stimulating respiratory rate, 24-dinitrophenol and electrical pulses reduced or eliminated glycogen re-synthesis while increased K ion concentration had no effect.