Increased Phospholipid Methylation and Glycogen Phosphorylase Activation after a Single Dose of Dexamethasone in Mouse Liver

Summary

Two different effects on phospholipid methylation and glycogen phosphorylase a activation were accomplished by treating mice livers with dexamethasone. A biphasic effect on the glycogen phosphorylase a was determined in the homogenated liver of dexamethasone-treated animals: The enzymatic activity increased between 45 to 90 min and decreased about 3 h. Moreover, the increased activity of glycogen phosphorylase a was also found in adrenalectomized mice. Also, the incorporation of ethanolamine into PE¹) and PC¹) after 15 min of hormone-administration was 77% and 270%, respectively, over the control values. The increase in phospholipid methylation was maintained during the first hour. After 4 h the hormone-treated animals also showed significant differences compared to the controls. Finally, studies of total lipid phosphorus content in the liver fail to show any differences between control and hormone-treated mice.

Key words

Phospholipid methylation - Phosphatidylethanolamine - Phosphatidylcholine - Glycogen phosphorylase - Glycogen synthase - Dexamethasone - Steroids - Liver mouse