Abstract
Summary
Changes in muscle composition, and activity of 4 enzyme systems in mice with dystrophia muscularis, have been investigated. Total nitrogen and protein nitrogen contents of dystrophic muscle were reduced as compared to controls, while collagen nitrogen was increased. Percentage dry weight was unchanged. Aldolase activity of dystrophic muscle was decreased on the basis of wet or dry weight, but was unchanged on the basis of protein- or non-collagen protein nitrogen content of muscle. Succinoxidase activity was not significantly affected by muscle dystrophy. Cytochrome oxidase and cathepsin activities were markedly increased in the muscle of dystrophic mice as compared to controls. Liver tissue from these mice showed no change as a result of the dystrophy. These results are compared to those observed in other forms of muscle wasting.
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