Mechanisms underlying enhanced glycogenolysis in livers of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine-treated rats

Rats trained on a diurnal controlled meal-feeding schedule and injected with a single dose of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) failed to accumulate liver glycogen and incorporated less D-[6-3H]glucose into glycogen than normally observed during the feeding period. In the experimental group, the concentration of liver adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) did not fall during feeding and the pattern of activities of glycogen phosphorylase, glycogen synthase, and phosphorylase kinase remained conductive to glycogenolysis. Liver lysosomal alpha-glucosidase activity normally fell during feeding periods. After T3 treatment the activities of alpha-glucosidase and two lysosomal cathepsins (B1 and D) were elevated. The evidence suggests that T3 may induce both liver phosphorylase kinase and lysosomal alpha-glucosidase. This outcome of T3 excess, in concert with previously described T3-inducible systems, provides a plausible explanation for the failure of glycogen accumulation in this experimental model.