Glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activities during glycogen repletion in endotoxemic rats

The activities of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase were quantitated in liver and skeletal muscle removed following glucose infusion in hemodynamically stable endotoxin-treated rats. Four hours after the IV injection of endotoxin or saline, rats were infused with 235 mumole/min/kg of glucose or saline for up to 4 additional hr. Saline-infused endotoxemic rats had lower basal glycogen content in muscle and liver, which was associated with an increased phosphorylase a activity in both tissues compared to controls. During the glucose infusion, the rate of glycogen repletion in muscle was similar in the two groups. Skeletal muscle phosphorylase a and glycogen synthase I & D activities were elevated above control values in endotoxemia, while glycogen synthase I activity remain unchanged. These changes in the activity of muscle phosphorylase and synthase are consistent with an increased flux of carbon into and out of glycogen and a normal rate of net glycogen synthesis during glucose infusion in endotoxin-treated rats. In contrast to muscle, hepatic glycogen synthesis by endotoxemic animals was reduced compared to glucose-infused controls. Hepatic glycogen repletion in control animals appeared to be mediated primarily by a glucose-induced suppression of phosphorylase a activity rather than an increased glycogen synthase activity. Glucose infusion failed to decrease phosphorylase a activity in endotoxin-treated rats, which may be causally related to the impaired ability of these animals to replete liver glycogen.