Glycogen metabolism in human fetal testes

Abstract

The ontogeny of glycogen synthetase, glycogen Phosphorylase and α-D-glucosidase, enzymes which are associated with glycogen metabolism and glycogen level has been studied in human fetal testes of gestational age ranging from 14–32 weeks. Glycogen synthetase activity reaches the peak value at 17–20 weeks of gestation, thereafter it decreases. α-D-Glucosidase activity increases with the advancement of pregnancy up to 28 weeks of gestation decreasing thereafter very rapidly. Phosphorylase activity remains more or less constant throughout gestation. The maximum increase in glycogen content at early stages of gestation (17–20 weeks) and gradual reduction with the advancement of pregnancy are correlated with histochemical observation by the periodic acid-Schiff technique.