Studies on carbohydrate metabolism in lizards.

Abstract

1. Initial glycogen levels in the liver were found to be significantly higher than in the kidneys of the two species studied. The glycogen levels in kidney were however considerably higher than in some mammalian species. 2. Total reducing capacity, true glucose, saccharoid fraction and titratable acidity increase gradually with concomitant decrease in the glycogen levels when liver and kidney homogenates of uromastix and liver homogenate of varanus were incubated for a period of 4 hours. 3. Total reducing capacity, true glucose and the titratable acidity increase gradually, while the glycogen and the saccharoid fraction remain unchanged when the kidney homogenates of varanus are incubated for 4 hours. 4. Total reducing capacity, true glucose and saccharoid fraction in the blood of uromastix are higher than in varanus. The blood glucose levels in both the species are higher than found in the mammals