Effects of Ethionine upon Hepatic Glycogen Formation from Glucose in Intact Rats.

Summary The intraperitoneal injection of DL-ethionine has been found to have the following effects on carbohydrate metabolism: 1) decrease in liver glycogen in both male and female rats given glucose by stomach tube 2) decrease in liver glycogen in male and female rats given glucose subcutaneously 3) increase in glucose unabsorbed from the alimentary tract in male and female rats given glucose by stomach tube and 4) decrease in liver glycogen in female rats given glucose by stomach tube or subcutaneously 3 hours prior to the administration of ethionine. Female rats generally showed changes of greater magnitude than males under the same conditions. Methionine prevented in part some of the effects on liver glycogen but had an effect similar to ethionine on glucose absorption from the alimentary tract.