ABSTRACT
Hepatic glycogen content as quantified both biochemically and histologically was estimated in control rats, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, in diabetic rats treated with 10 IU insulin for one week, and in diabetic rats exposed to stress in the form of immobilization for 15 minutes prior to their sacrifice. Diabetic rats demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in liver glycogen content, and histologically there was marked depletion in the majority of the hepatic cells. Administration of insulin to diabetic rats revealed a statistically significant increase in liver glycogen content above the levels obtained in both diabetic and control animals and histologically there was almost restoration of the glycogen content in the hepatic cells. This adds further confirmation as to that administration of insulin in the intact animal switched the liver from glycogenolysis to synthesis. The probable mechanisms underlying insulin mode of action were discussed. Exposure of diabetic rats to acute stress in the form of immobilization, resulted in a statistically significant reduction in liver glycogen content from both control and diabetic values. Histologically, there was marked depletion of glycogen in all liver cells which was far more greater than that observed in the hepatic cells from non-stressed diabetic rats. The probable causes of the augmented glycogenolysis in stressed diabetic rats were discussed