Studies of liver phosphorylase in hepatic injuries. I. Alteration in enzyme activity.

Phosphorylase activities (total and a form) were determined in the livers of experimental hepatic injuries with carbon tetrachloride or galactosamine and the livers of patients with liver diseases. Experimental liver injuries caused a slight decrease in total activity in later stages and a marked increase in a form activity in earlier stages. In human livers, low values of total activity were found in acute hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver with no consistent alteration in a activity. Phosphorylase activities in hepatocellular carcinomas were also low. The importance of the altered phosphorylase activities in hepatic injuries is discussed in relation to the disorder in glycogen metabolism in the injured liver.