An electron microscopic and biochemical study of the effects of glucagon on newborn rat hepatocytes.

Certain effects of glucagon administration on newborn rat hepatocytes were studied using biochemical assays, electron microscopy and quantitative morphometry. Glucagon accelerated the normal postnatal hyaloplasmic glycogen breakdown and the lysosomal glycogen breakdown. The glucagon-treated animals showed an increased activity of the enzyme, acid a 1,4 glucosidase (maltase). The results suggest that the catabolism of lysosomal glycogen is controlled by those agents that regulate the catabolism of hyaloplasmic glycogen and that this control is mediated through changes in the activity of the lysosomal acid a 1,4 glucosidases.