Cyclic changes in the glycogen content of the liver and the muscles of rats and mice

Abstract

THE physiological changes in the glycogen content of the liver have generally been considered to be the result of changes in the carbohydrate supply of the body. It was formerly regarded as established that glycogen accumulates in the liver after ingestion of food and is eliminated from the liver by fasting, especially if combined with muscular exercise. Accordingly fasting and muscular exercise have been the principal means adopted for removing the glycogen from the liver as well as from the muscular tissue. At a very early date, however, observations, were made indicating that the mechanism of this function of the liver was more complex than had been supposed.