Effect of glucamylase on tissue glycogen and tissue glucamylase in the rat

1. A fungal glucamylase (alpha-1,4-glucan glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.3) from Aspergillus niger depresses liver glycogen stores after intraperitoneal injection into the rat. The injected enzyme rapidly disappears (within about 8hr.) from the serum; less than 1% is excreted in the urine, but it is rapidly taken up in the liver, spleen, kidney, cardiac and skeletal muscle. Elevated glucamylase concentrations could be demonstrated in liver and spleen tissues for 1-4 days after injection, but in kidney, cardiac and skeletal muscle elevated glucamylase concentrations could be shown only for periods of less than 24hr. after injection of the enzyme.