[Glycogen content in the placenta of rats in experimental diabetes]

Glycogen was determined histochemically and biochemically in the placenta of female rats with alloxan diabetes induced in sexually immature animals, including the placenta of rats treated with sulfamides before the occurrence of pregnancy. Histochemical studies were carried out on 18, and biochemical on 38 Wistar rats. Glycogen content in the mature placenta before labour was greater in animals with manifest alloxan diabetes than in healthy rats. This increase of glycogen granules took place on account of their increase both in the glycogen cells, and, extracellularly, in the spongious zone. A significant increase of glycogen content in the placenta in manifest and latent diabetes was also demonstrated by biochemical methods; as to "prediabetic" rats--elevation of glycogen content in their placenta was insignificant in comparison with control. In diabetes compensated with sulfamides glycogen content in glycogen cells changed differently: there was a disappearance of extracellular glycogen from the spongious zone, and numerous glycogen granules (determined in healthy rats and in those with alloxan diabetes in insignificant amount) appeared in the labyrinth.