Mobilization of placental glycogen in diabetic rats

Since glycogen accumulates in the placenta in diabetes and does not appear to be susceptible, in general, to the effect of fasting, the capacity of catecholamines to elicit glycogenolysis was investigated in non-diabetic and diabetic rats. Injection of epinephrine or isoproterenol caused a decrease in placental glycogen within 20 min in non-diabetic, 20 day pregnant rats, in association with the rise in serum glucose and lactate. Incubation with isoproterenol induced glycogenolysis in placental slices from non-diabetic and diabetic rats, nearly commensurate with lactate production. This effect of isoproterenol was concentration dependent and of similar magnitude in non-diabetic and diabetic rat placentas. Glucagon was ineffective in inducing placental glycogenolysis in vivo or in vitro. Protracted stimulation of the catecholamine receptor by the administration of cholera toxin effected a pronounced decrease in placental glycogen, percentagewise higher in diabetic than non-diabetic rats. These results show that placental glycogen is amenable to mobilization by hormonal stimuli effecting phosphorylase activation.