Independence of glycogen accumulation and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase induction in rat liver

The responses of liver glycogen and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) (EC 1.1.1.49) to a high glucose, adequate protein diet were compared between rats previously starved 2 days, then refed a high protein, carbohydrate-free diet for 2 days, and rats previously fed the high protein diet for 4 days. Glycogen levels increased dramatically during the first day the high carbohydrate diet was fed, then decreased gradually on the second day. The response was the same regardless of whether the rats had been starved more before the high protein diet was fed. Liver G6PD activity also increased when the high carbohydrate diet was fed, and continued to increase on the second day. The increase in G6PD, however, was significantly greater in the rats which had been starved before the high protein diet was fed. It is suggested that some process occurs during starvation that predisposes the induction of G6PD upon refeeding a high carbohydrate diet, over and above any effect of glycogen accumulation and breakdown. Glucose or glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycogen does not appear to be the primary inducer of G6PD in rat liver.