Effect of Dietary Orotic Acid on Liver Glycogen. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Female Wistar strain rats were force-fed for 3 days a purified diet containing 1% orotic acid and liver lipid and glycogen were determined. Liver glycogen as well as liver lipid became significantly increased. Addition of 0.25% adenine sulfate to the orotic acid diet prevented the increase in hepatic lipid but did not appreciably affect the increased hepatic glycogen. Intraperitoneal administration of adenine did not affect the increased hepatic lipid and glycogen. Liver activities of glucose-6-phosphatase, phosphorylase and amylo-1,6-glucosidase were similar in orotic acid-fed and in basal diet-fed animals. Hepatic glycogen of orotic acid-fed animals responded to administration of glycogenolytic agents (epinephrine and glycine) and to sucrose.