Abstract
Summary
1. A study has been made of the metabolic patterns of rabbits with muscular dystrophy due to vit. E-deficiency and to chronic overdosage with cortisone. Both conditions are characterized by an increased urinary excretion of creatine, nitrogen, potassium and calcium. These urinary losses are quantitatively greater in cortisone induced dystrophy, although the clinical symptoms of muscular weakness and diminished life span were most marked in vit. E-deficiency. 2. The effect of pituitary growth hormone administration on both types of experimental muscular dystrophy was studied. Combined with cortisone in large doses, it exacerbated the metabolic abnormalities. Smaller doses partially curtailed the increase in nitrogen excretion. Superimposed on vit. E-deficiency, growth hormone was without effect clinically and mildly active with respect to nitrogen storage for a few days. 3. Both cortisone and growth hormone were diabetogenic in the rabbit.
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