An electron microscopic and biochemical study of the effects of insulin on newborn rat hepatocytes.
Certain effects of insulin administration on newborn rat hepatocytes were studied using biochemical assays, electron microscopy and quantitative morphometry. Insulin produced an inhibition of postnatal hyaloplasmic glycogen breakdown, of lysosomal glycogen breakdown and of the development of the Golgi apparatus. The insulin-treated animals showed a low activity of the enzyme, acid alpha 1,4-glucosidase (maltase). The results support the postulate that the catabolism of lysosomal glycogen is controlled by those agents that regulate the catabolism of hyaloplasmic glycogen (Am. J. Path., 63: 1-17 and Am. J. Path., 63: 23-36, 1971). Control could be mediated through changes in the activity of the lysosomal acid alpha 1,4-glucosidase.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis
D007328:Insulin; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases