Analysis of a characteristic alteration of glycogen in the liver of alloxan diabetic rat by fasting.

A characteristic alteration of hepatic glycogen content by fasting was analyzed about alloxan diabetic rats. 1) In the fed state, hepatic glycogen content was suppressed in alloxan diabetic rats. However, when rats were fasted for 48 hours hepatic glycogen content was higher in alloxan diabetic rats than in the normal ones. There was a positive correlation between the blood glucose level and the liver glycogen level in fasted diabetic condition. 2) When rats were fasted, the incorporation of the blood glucose into both hepatic glycogen and glyceride-glycerol was more in the alloxan diabetic rats when compared with the intact rats. This was calculated from the values of the incorporated [U-14C] glucose. 3) On the other hand, under the same condition as 2), the incorporation from [2-14C] lactate into liver glycogen was less in alloxan-treated rats. Although 14C-glucose in the blood converted from (2-14C] lactate was more in alloxan-treated rats, it was attributed to delayed disappearance of glucose from the blood stream.