RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLYCOGEN AND AGRANULAR ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM IN RAT HEPATIC CELLS

Abstract

The relation between agranular reticulum and glycogen was studied in hepatic cells of female rats. Prolonged fasting of nonadrenalectomized rats did hot result ins complete liver glycogen depletion, whereas in adrenalectomized rats this could be accomplished within a few hours of fasting. In nonadrenalectomized rats a marked development of agranular reticulum associated with glycogen was found, whereas in adrenalectomized rats no such marked development of agranular reticulum was seen during glycogen depletion. Early glycogen restoration in glycogen-depleted liver cells of adrenalectomized rats was brought about 2-4 hr after the injection of 1 dose of cortisone or ½-1 hr after the injection of glucose. Early restoration of glycogen was accompanied and even preceded by a marked development of tubular agranular reticulum. A probable role of this organelle in glycogen synthesis and breakdown is discussed. High resolution autoradiography of tritium-labeled glucose incorporation offered some further illustration on the process of glycogen formation.