Changes in tissue glycogen of recovering asphyxiated newborn monkeys

Newborn rhesus monkeys were used to investigate the relation between the duration of total asphyxia and the magnitude of the postasphyctic cerebral glycogen hyper-deposition response. The latter has been observed to occur following episodes of total asphyxia lasting 12.5 min and to be maximal at 12 h into the recovery period. The changes in glycogen contents of other vital organs were also studied. A minimum duration of 9 min of total asphyxia was required for the first elicitation of the cerebral glycogen hyperdeposition response. The magnitude of the response once elicited did not vary whatever the duration of the asphyxia beyond 9 and up to 30 min. During the actual episodes of total asphyxia, the glycogen content of the brain diminished more rapidly and completely than did that of kidney or heart. The hepatic, pulmonary and muscle glycogen contents did not change significantly either during asphyxia or during the recovery period.