The effects of hypoxia on human placental glycogen content and the activity levels of the
glycogen-metabolizing enzymes, glycogen synthetase and glycogen phosphorylase, have
been determined in fresh term and immature human placental villi and in explants
maintained in an organ culture system. Glycogen synthetase activity, rate limiting to
glycogen synthesis, decreases during gestation. Phosphorylase activity, catalyzing glycogen
breakdown, however, was found elevated in term placental tissue. These findings are …