[Role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of postexercise glycogen replenishment, and the mechanism of their action].

Repeated determination of post--exercise glycogen repletion in liver, heart, white and red skeletal muscles of intact and adrenalectomized rats with or without the administration of dexamethasone and sucrose revealed that a glycogen supercompensation effect depends on the availability of glucocorticoids. Other factors which considerably modify the effect of glucocorticoids on glycogen synthesis, are the molecular properties of the mechanism through which the hormone actualizes its biological effect. The stimulating effect of dexamethasone on glycogen synthesis in the liver and heart muscle of adrenalectomized rats is blocked by cycloheximide. This suggests that the role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of post--exercise glycogen synthesis depends upon cycloheximide--sensitive protein synthesis.