Studies on the breakdown of glycogen in the lysosomes: the effects of hydrocortisone.

The effects of hydrocortisone on newborn rat liver were studied by using biochemical assays, electron microscopy and quantitative morphometry. Hydrocortisone increased the number of lysosomes in the hepatocytes. Most of the lysosomes represented glycogen-containing autophagic vacuoles. The glucocorticoid also increased the activity of the liver glycogen-hydrolyzing acid glucosidase and the breakdown of glycogen inside lysosomes. The activity of the liver acid mannose 6-phosphatase was decreased. This may be related to the stimulation of autophagic mechanisms in the newborn rat hepatocytes.