Abstract
Summary
Administration of 7a-methyl-19-nortestosterone, 2α-methyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, 2a,3a-episulfido-l 7β- (3-cyclopenta-nyd)propionoxy-5α-androstane and related anabolic steroids to dystrophic mice resulted in prolonged survival and increased ability to hang on a vertical screen. A lowering of the abnormally high potassium efflux and wet wt/dry fat-free muscle ratio characteristic of dystrophic muscle was found after treatment with these steroids. Slight but not statistically significant changes in the steady state levels of muscle potassium, sodium and chloride toward normal were observed. Treatment with these steroids did not alter the microscopic changes of dystrophic muscle.
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