Abstract
Summary
Atropine does not retard the diminution in contractile power per weight unit nor the diminution in birefringence in denervation atrophy of rat muscle. The apparent retardation of weight loss of the denervated muscle in atropine-treated rats found by comparing the percentage weight difference between normal and denervated muscle of treated rats with the difference found in controls, does not indicate a true atrophy retardating effect of atropine. Continuous administration of atropine in such large doses produces cachectic inanition of the rats, in consequence of which the weight difference between denervated and so-called normal muscle is diminished, since the latter weighs considerably less than a truly normal muscle.
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