Regulation of rat liver glycogen phosphorylase concentration by in vivo relative levels of glucagon and insulin.

The concentrations of glycogen phosphorylase protein were determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis in liver extracts from rats that had artificially induced altered hormonal patterns. These levels were compared with measurements of total phosphorylase activity. Minipump-induced chronic hyperglucagonemia and streptozotocin-induced diabetes resulted in 47% and 67% decreases, respectively, in total phosphorylase activity along with corresponding 52% and 68% drop, respectively, in phosphorylase protein levels. Insulin replacement in diabetic rats returned both parameters to control values. Minipump-induced hyperinsulinemia or injection of glucagon antiserum, T3, or propylthiouracil had no effect. The results of this study indicate that conditions which lead to an elevation of the glucagon to insulin molar ratio to values higher than 1.0 cause a significant decrease in the liver phosphorylase protein level.