Abstract: AIM: To explore the changes of glycogen metabolism in diabetic animal models and the role of glycogen metabolism in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Firstly four types of diabetic animal models were generated including mice models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Then the liver glycogen and muscle glycogen contents of these diabetic mice were determined according to anthrone-reagent method and glucokinase expressions in liver of glucokinase gene knockout mice were assayed using western blot. RESULTS: Blood glucose levels were increased in all types of model mice. In particularly, model mice of type 1 diabetes mellitus displayed significantly higher blood glucose levels than those of model mice of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Liver glycogen contents in model mice significantly declined except neonatal STZ-induced model mice. In addition, muscle glycogen contents were decreased in all model mice. Western blot assay showed that glucokinase expression decreased in liver from glucokinase gene knockout mice, which might contribute to the diminished liver glycogen in this kind of diabetes model. CONCLUSION: Diabetic subjects show impaired glycogen metabolism with the diminished liver glycogen and muscle glycogen contents, which indicates the key role of glycogen metabolism in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Key words: glycogen, animal disease model, diabetes mellitus, alloxan, streptozotocin, glucokinase