Effects of Some Steroids on Glycogen Metabolism in Uterus and Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

The steroids in doses of 2 mg daily for 3 days were injected into rats spayed 6-9 days previously. Testosterone increased uterine weight and glycogen concentration; desoxycorticosterone slightly increased only the glycogen level; cortisone, cortisol, 11-desoxycortisol and pregnenolone were ineffective. The glycogen level of the rectus femoris muscle was increased by testosterone, cortisone and cortisol only. The increase in uterine glycogen induced by a single injection of 0.5 [mu]g estradiol in spayed rats was not inhibited by a concomitant series of injections of cortisone or cortisol. An intraperitoneal injection of epinephrine (50 [mu]g per 100 g body weight) given to spayed rats previously treated with 50 [mu]g of estradiol to elevate uterine glycogen, induced glycogenolysis in the uterus. Pretreatment of these estrogen-treated rats with cortisone potentiated the glycogenolytic action of epinephrine in the uterus by 50%.