title: Glycogen metabolism during human liver development.
abstract: Development of enzymes of glycogen metabolism in human fetal and neonatal liver was investigated. Glycogen was present in quantitatable amount from early gestational age onwards; however, ultrastructurally it could not be detected earlier than 20 weeks. Increase in glycogen synthetase a activity during 21-36 weeks of gestation subsequently resulted in glycogen accumulation. A rapid degradation of this glycogen storage, at birth, was accompanied by an elevation in glycogen phosphorylase a activity. The present investigation to be the first to provide a complete profile of glycogen storage and differentiation of glycogen metabolising enzymes in preparing the prenatal fetus for its independent nutritional life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Habeebullah
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D006006:Glycogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006005:Phosphorylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008112:Liver Glycogen; D006005:Phosphorylases; D006006:Glycogen Synthase