Glycogen Metabolism in the Turkey Embryo and Poult

Abstract Fertile eggs from Large White turkey hens were classified according to weight at time of incubation. Glycogen was measured in the 21-day-old embryo and one-day-old poult. Liver glycogen was positively correlated with initial egg weight in the 21-day-old embryo and negatively related to initial egg weight in the one-day-old poult. Glycogen recycling was evident in the one-day-old poult. Maximum accumulation of 14 C-glucose as glycogen occurred 60 min post injection. Liver phosphorylase a level was higher in the one-day-old poult than the embryo. Total phosphorylase per gram of liver tissue was not different between the two age groups. Liver phosphorylase b was subject to conversion to phosphorylase a in both age groups. Avian phosphorylase exists in both the active and inactive form.