title: Glycogen content in the adrenals and liver of rat embryos depending on the level of adrenocorticotropic functions.
abstract: The functional state of the adrenals of rats during prenatal development was studied. The accumulation of glycogen in the adrenals and liver in 15.5-21.5-day old embryos was used as the index. The maximum glycogen concentration in the adrenals and the minimum in the liver were detected in 15.5-16.5-day embryos, i.e., before the adrenals had begun to produce glucocorticoids. A sharp decrease in glycogen in the adrenals was observed in 17.5-day embryos, and an appreciable accumulation in the liver in 18.5-day embryos, which coincides with the beginning of the glucocorticoid function. Decapitation and encephalectomy performed at an age of 17.5-19.5 days of development of the embryos, were invariably accompanied by a significant increase in the glycogen content in the adrenals and a decrease in its level in the liver in the case of investigation after two days. This indicates an active participation of the hypothalamo-pituitary system in the regulation of the adrenocortical function in the late days of embryonic development.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000196:embryology; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008112:Liver Glycogen; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006003:Glycogen