Muscle Glycogen Synthetase in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

An inverse relationship between glycogen content and synthetase I activity (% of total) was previously found in human muscle tissue. We have found basal content of glycogen and synthetase I activity in relation to the glycogen content in muscle of diabetic patients to be significantly lower than in normals. Treatment with insulin restored the relationship between I activity and glycogen towards normal, total activity remaining unchanged. Glycogen depletion by exercise increased I activity in diabetic patients, but to a lower extent than in normals.

Key Words:

• Diabetes mellitus
• glycogen synthesis
• glycogen synthetase
• insulin
• muscle exercise
• muscle glycogen
• muscle metabolism