INTRODUCTION

Glycogen is the major storage form of carbohydrate in animals and starch in plants. The main stores of glycogen in the body are found in skeletal muscle and liver, although most other cells may store minute amounts. The function of muscle glycogen is to serve as a fuel reserve for the synthesis of ATP during muscle contraction. That of liver glycogen is to maintain the blood glucose concentration.

FUNCTIONS OF LIVER AND MUSCLE GLYCOGEN

Periods fasting (a few days) and is only moderately decreased in prolonged fasting (few weeks) as shown in Figure 8.9.

Figure 8.9 Role of Glycogen in Liver and Muscle