Abstract
The experiment was carried out using 9 Japanese meat-type kids to observe the effects of starvation on the tissue glycogen contents of weaned kids. The kids, of 12 weeks of age, were divided into 3 groups of 3 kids each: 1) a fed group, 2) a 48hr starved group, 3) a 96hr starved group. In the fed group, glycogen contents of the liver, skeletal muscle, diaphragm and heart were 19.7±2.1, 4.79±0.70, 5.48±1.10 and6.68±0.89mg per gram of wet tissue weight, respectively. Total hepatic glycogen decreased by 81% and 91% in the 48hr and 96hr starved groups, respectively. Forty-eight hr and 96hr starvation reduced glycogen concentration of skeletal muscle signifi-cantly (P<0.05). But in the diaphragm, there was no significant difference between the fed and 48hr starved groups, while glycogen concentration in the 96hr starved group was significantly (P<0.05) lower than in the other groups. No significant differences among the 3 groups were noted in cardiac glycogen. Starvation increased plasma free fatty acids concentration significantly (P<0.05). Blood plasma glucose concentration in the 96hr starved group was significantly (P<0.05) lower than in the fed group, but there was no significant difference between the 96hr starved and 48hr starved groups.
