Abstract
Gluconeogenesis of the hydrocortisone-administered eel was studied. Hydrocortisone administration produced a marked hyperglycemia. The liver of the treated eel showed an increase in weight with a concomitant increase in the amount of liver glycogen and in the activities of liver GOT, liver FDP, and liver PFK. Muscle glycogen also increased slightly. However, hydrocortisone produced no appreciable change in plasma amino nitrogen level or in liver GPT activity. Histologically, islet B cells of the hydrocortisone-treated eel exhibited a slight degranulation and some accumulation of glycogen.
These results clearly show that hydrocortisone activates gluconeogenesis in the eel. However, the effect of the hormone on amino acid mobilization seems to be small.