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Studies on the breakdown of glycogen in the lysosomes: The
effects of hydrocortisone
S.A. Kalamidas and O.B. Kotoulas
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology,
Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
Offprint requests to:
Dr. Stefanos A. Kalamidas, Department of Anatomy, Histology and
Embryology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45
110, Greece
Summary. The
effects of hydrocortisone on newborn rat liver were studied by
using biochemical assays, electron microscopy and quantitative
morphometry. Hydro-cortisone increased the number of lysosomes
in the hepatocytes. Most of the lysosomes represented glycogen-containing
autophagic vacuoles. The gluco-corticoid also increased the activity
of the liver glycogen-hydrolyzing acid glucosidase and the breakdown
of glycogen inside lysosomes. The activity of the liver acid mannose
6-phosphatase was decreased. This may be related to the stimulation
of autophagic mechanisms in the newborn rat hepatocytes. Histol.
Histopathol. 15, 29-35 (2000)
Key words: Hydrocortisone,
Lysosomes, Glycogen, Lysosomal enzymes, Autophagy
DOI: 10.14670/HH-15.29
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