GLYCOGEN METABOLISM IN FETAL, NEONATAL, AND INFANT MUSCLE OF THE RHESUS MONKEY
Rose Mary Bocek Ph.D.1 and
Clarissa H. Beatty Ph.D.2
1 Departments of Biochemistry, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon
2 University of Oregon Medical School, Portland, Oregon
Muscle fiber groups from fetal, neonatal, and infant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were incubated with glucose-C14 under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. Glycogen concentrations in the 90-day fetal and 4 to 5-day-old neonatal and infant series were lower when incubated under hypoxic than under aerobic conditions. The percent of glucose uptake appearing in glycogen was lowest at 90 days fetal age and highest in the infant series. Hypoxia markedly decreased glucose-C14 incorporation into glycogen. The dilution of the lactate-C14 produced indicated that glycogen turnover can be demonstrated under aerobic conditions as early as 90 days fetal age (55% of gestation) and that glycogen is mobilized from fetal and neonatal muscle under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia increased glycogen mobilization, and the magnitude of glycogenolysis was similar in 90-and 120-day fetal, neonatal, and infant muscle but higher in muscle from fetuses near term (150 and 160 days). Therefore, the increased resistance of the near-term fetus to anoxia which would be fatal to older animals may be partially explained by the increased availability of glycogen stores.
Submitted on March 10, 1967
Accepted on May 5, 1967
