W. F. Schwenk II, M.D.

Substrate Control of Glycogen Synthesis in Vivo

The primary thrust of our research is to further our understanding of one aspect of glucose homeostasis - specifically, the substrate and hormonal factors that affect the rate of glycogen synthesis in vivo.

We are testing the hypothesis that glycogen turnover is a continuing process by using acetaminophen to "biochemically biopsy" the immediate precursor of intrahepatic glycogen (UDP-glucose) during simultaneous infusions of multiple radioactive and stable isotopically labeled compounds. In addition, we are applying these techniques to children with growth hormone deficiency to better understand why they may become hypoglycemic. Analysis is carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy.