[Glycogen degradation in rabbit brain under normal conditions and following cranio-cerebral injury]

Activities of gamma-amylase (acidic alpha-glucosidase) and phosphorylase were studied in brain of normal rabbits and in animals subjected to craniocerebral trauma. The gamma-amylase activity was slightly increased within 10 min after the trauma and its was decreased within 24 hrs. The phosphorylase activity was decreased in the both periods of investigation. Administration of strychnine into normal animals increased the gamma-amylase activity and decreased the phosphorylase activity. At the same time, the normalization of the gamma-amylase activity was observed after stimulation of the central nervous system (by phenamine) of traumatized animals. Inhibition of the central nervous system of traumatized animals (by administration of urethane and barbital mixture) led to the subsequent decrease of the gamma-amylase activity (in several cases up to the zero value) without any alterations in the phosphorylase activity. Participation of gamma-amylase in glycogen metabolism of rabbit brain is discussed.