Hepatic Glucose Production in Developing Chicken Embryo

Abstract

Hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity appears in developing chicken embryo almost simultaneously with appearance of 1st hepatic cells. Glucose-6-phosphatase and [beta]-glucuro-nidase activity of embryo increase in direct proportion to liver weight. Properties of embryonic liver glucose-6-phosphatase are similar to those found in adult liver of other species. Studies with liver slices indicate that the embryo liver is capable of glycogenolysis and glucose formation.