Effect of monensin administration on rat liver glycogen content: preliminary hystological observations.

The action of monensin, an electroneutral Na/H antiport, has been studied on liver glycogen content of female rats. The results showed that monensin, when administered in vivo, is able to determine liver glycogen depletion, in agreement with the increase of glycemia and the decrease of insulinemia. Glycogen stores are reformed in 3-4 hours. Moreover, glycogen depletion is more evident in periportal areas, in agreement with "metabolic zonation" of liver carbohydrate metabolism.