The conversion of injected glucose into renal glycogen and mucopolysaccharides

Summary Tritiated glucose has been injected into rabbits in various states of hydration. The renal papilla of all animals showed an uptake of the label, converted into glycogen, and into mucopolysaccharides, in a manner dependent on the water balance of the animal.In papillae of control animals, the glycogen of the collecting duct epithelial cells and the mucopolysaccharides of the interstitium were labelled.In papillae of animals in an aqueous diuresis, the collecting duct glycogen was lightly labelled and there was no label over the interstitium.Antidiuretic hormone caused a diversion of label from the collecting ducts into interstitial mucopolysaccharides.The significance of these findings, with respect to renal concentrating ability, is discussed.The author wishes to thank Dr. M. K. S. Hathorn for help with the statistical analysis. Mr. K. Gamblin and Mr. P. L. Hyam gave valuable technical assistance. This research formed a part of the work approved for the degree of Ph. D. (London).