THE EFFECT OF ADMINISTERED ADRENAL CORTICAL HORMONES ON THE LIVER GLYCOGEN OF NORMAL AND SCORBUTIC GUINEA PIGS.1

Abstract

The liver glycogen of normal guinea pigs (5.99 g. %) fell rapidly when the animals were fasted, reaching minimal levels (0.04 g. %) within 24 hrs. This rapid decrease in the glycogen content of the liver was followed within another 48 hrs. by a small and transient increase (0.13 g. %). The initial liver glycogen content of scorbutic guinea pigs was lower than for normal pigs (2.46 g. %) and fasting produced a much slower drop (0.21 g.%) at 24 hrs. In addition the scorbutic animals did not show the subsequent transient rise. The subcut. admn. of adrenal cortical hormone, and 11-dehydrocorticosterone, to 24 hr.-fasted normal guinea pigs caused a large rise of the liver glycogen (1.16 g. % within 4-5 hrs.). In contrast to this was the lack of any response to cortical hormones by fasted scorbutic animals. With the production of scurvy in guinea pigs the ascorbic acid content of the adrenals dropped faster than the ascorbic acid in the spleen, kidneys or liver.