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THE HISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF POTASSIUM AND GLYCOGEN

1953; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 1; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/1.3.160

1551-5044

K. J. POPPEN, D. M. GREEN, H. T. Wrenn,

Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics

synthesis of glycogen from glucose is greater in media high in potassium (2, 7). The shift of glucose accompanied by potassium from the blood into the liver in treated diabetics has been well documented (8). In contrast, in vitro studies using skeletal muscle and heart have suggested that glycogen synthesis is enhanced by media low in cation content (19, 20). The indispensability of potassium in the trans-phorylation of phosphopyruvate with adenosine tnphosphate has been shown (1) and confirmed (16). Pathologic deposits of glycogen accumulate around the borders of myocardial infarcts (21), particularly along the suhendocardium.1 During the past two years we have attempted to correlate the distribution of glycogen and potassium in these areas adjacent to myocardial infarcts in view of the possibility that zonal alterations of potassium and glycogen might be a physioanatomic basis for the occurrence of dardia( arrythmias in coronary artery disease (myocardial fibrosis, infarction). The important role of potassium in iteuro-muscular conduction and the location of specialized conduction pathways, rich in glycogen, in the immediate suhendocardium suggested that redistribution of these substances under the stress of anoxia might result in the development of aberrant conduction pathways or retrogressive changes in preexisting routes. In order to demonstrate potassium in tissues it was necessary to develop a reliable staining technique. Accordingly, previously reported methods were reviewed and critically evaluated. It became apparent that failures in the past were due to the rapid shift of potassium across cell membranes. Certain modifications were devised to minimize this shift.