The control of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate by developmental state and hormonal stimulation in cultured muscle tissue

1. The concentration of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, a potent regulator of muscle glucose metabolism, was examined in embryonic muscle cells in culture. 2. The concentration in fused myotubes was twice that in unfused myoblasts. 3. The effect of various hormones and agonists on the glucose 1,6-bisphosphate concentration in both pre- and post-fusion muscle cells was examined. In pre-fusion cells no effect of adrenaline or cyclic AMP was observed, but stimulation by vasopressin, adrenaline + propranolol, ionophore A23187 and dibutyryl cyclic GMP significantly decreased glucose 1,6-bisphosphate. In post-fusion cells similar effects were observed, except that stimulation by adrenaline and by dibutyryl cyclic AMP significantly increased metabolite concentration. 4. All effects increased with time (over a 1 h period), except for that of vasopressin, which was transient. 5. The changes in glucose 1,6-bisphosphate concentration were accompanied by changes in the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate/fructose 6-phosphate ratio, implying an effect on phosphofructokinase activity.