Effect of Blood Sugar Levels on Glycogen Content of Hypophysis and Adrenal Glands.

Abstract

Glycogen content was determined in the components of hypophysis and adrenal glands of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. In the normal rat, the neurohypophysis contains approximately 50% more glycogen than does the adenohypophysis. In the diabetic rat, the glycogen content of both hypophyseal components and the adrenal medulla are considerably greater than the corresponding normal values; in the adeno- and neurohypophysis the increase was 2- and 4-fold, respectively, while in the adrenal medulla it was 2-fold. By contrast, the glycogen content in the diabetic rat adrenal cortex was not significantly altered. Hyperglycemia produced by glucose injection into normal and subdiabetic rats caused an 80% decrease in the glycogen content of the adrenal cortex but there was no decrease in the other endocrine components. Decrease in the blood sugar level in diabetic rats induced by insulin administration caused a corresponding decrease in the glycogen content of all the components of adrenal and hypophysis. It is suggested that the changes in the glycogen content may be related to hormonal synthesis and/or secretion. Injection of ACTH caused no significant change in the glycogen content of the diabetic rat adrenal cortex.