THE EFFECT OF LOW ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE ON THE GLYCOGEN CONTENT OF THE RAT

Abstract

White rats fasted 24 hrs. and kept for a further 24 hrs. of fasting in a well ventilated chamber at 1/2 atm. pressure contained 34% more glycogen than rats fasted a like time at atm. pressure, largely owing to an increase in liver glycogen from 0.2 to 1.4%. Heart glycogen and blood lactic acid were substantially unaltered; gastrocnemius glycogen and blood sugar were raised. When fed rats were fasted for 24 hrs. at 1/2 atm. the already high liver glycogen was moderately increased and the heart and gastrocnemius glycogen showed a marked gain. The increase in glycogen apparently was due to a conversion from protein or fat. The phenomenon did not occur in bilaterally adrenalec-tomized rats.