Glycogen is a
polysaccharide of
glucose (Glc) which functions as the primary short term energy storage in
animal cells. It is made primarily by the
liver and the
muscles, but can also be made by the
brain,
uterus, and the
vagina. Glycogen is the analogue of
starch, a less branched glucose polymer in
plants, and is commonly referred to as animal starch, having a similar structure to
amylopectin. Glycogen is found in the form of granules in the
cytosol in many
cell types, and plays an important role in the
glucose cycle. Glycogen forms an
energy reserve that can be quickly mobilized to meet a sudden need for glucose, but one that is less compact than the energy reserves of
triglycerides (fat). In the liver
hepatocytes, glycogen can compose up to 8% of the fresh weight (100–120 g in an adult) soon after a meal. Only the glycogen stored in the liver can be made accessible to other organs. In the
muscles, glycogen is found in a much lower concentration (1% of the muscle mass), but the total amount exceeds that in liver. Small amounts of glycogen are found in the
kidneys, and even smaller amounts in certain
glial cells in the
brain and
white blood cells. The uterus also stores glycogen during pregnancy to nourish the embryo.
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