Hydrocortisone-increased glycogen deposition and its dependence on tissue interactions in mouse embryonic lung developing <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

ABSTRACT We have performed experiments showing that the epithelial tree of embryonic rudiments, when cultured in vitro in the presence of hydrocortisone, sharply increases its glycogen content. The distribution of the polysaccharide remains very similar to that observed in the absence of the hormone. The increased glycogen deposition in response to the hormonal treatment requires the presence of homologous (bronchial) mesenchyme, as shown by the complete inability of the epithelium to accumulate glycogen when experimentally associated with metanephrogenic mesenchyme. The increased deposition of glycogen in the epithelial tree does not result in an enhanced rate of budding activity.