[Glycogen breakdown in the tissue of human cerebral glial tumors]

The activity of gamma-amylase (acid alpha-glucosidase) and phosphorylase in the tissue of human glial tumours and the brain tissue adjacent to the tumour was studied. A sharp (more than three-fold) increase of the activity of gamma-amylase was found in the tissue of glial tumours. In the adjacent tissues of the brain its activity was also elevated (approximately, two-fold). The activity of phosphorylase is practically lacking in human glial tumours, and is only slightly apparent in the brain tissue neighbouring the tumour. Gamma-amylase may be suggested to play an important role in glycogen metabolism of glial tumours in man.