Postmaturity in the rat: phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activities in the fetal liver.

Liver glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activities were increased in the postmature rat fetus (23.5 day old) when compared to term rat fetus (21.5 day old). Postmaturity was without effect on liver phosphorylase activity. The three liver enzyme activities were also determined in normal 2 day old neonates. These results are correlated with the mobilisation of fetal liver glycogen occuring during postmaturity in the rat and are discussed in relation to the secretory pattern of the pancreatic hormones.