THE GLYCOGEN CONTENT OF FROG'S MUSCLE AFTER INJECTION OF INSULIN AND ITS RELATION TO CONTRACTION

Abstract

In the isolated gastrocnemius muscle stimulation to complete fatigue resulted in but a slight fall in the glycogen content. Muscles from animals which had undergone insulin convulsions contained about 1/2 the normal amount of glycogen, but stimulation resulted in but a small further reduction. But in muscles with intact circulation, which responded to long periods of stimulation, the glycogen of the gastrocnemius muscle was reduced nearly 1/2, but was not further reduced in animals with the liver removed or following strychnine convulsions. In muscles of frogs which had undergone insulin convulsions in the course of 48 hrs. and had been further stimulated, the glycogen was reduced to a very low value and in many instances none could be detected. Some increase in glycogen occurred during a few hours of rest. Even in the condition of glycogen lack good contractions lasting for hours were recorded closely comparable with those of normal animals.