Metabolic Patterns in Experimentally Induced Muscular Dystrophy.

Abstract

The metabolic patterns of rabbits with muscular dystrophy due to vit. E deficiency and to chronic over- dosage with cortisone was studied. Both conditions are characterized by an increased urinary excretion of creatine, N, K and Ca. 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. The effect of admn. pituitary growth hormone on both types of exptl. muscular dystrophy was studied. Combined with cortisone in large doses, it exacerbated the metabolic abnormalities. Smaller doses partially curtailed the increase in N excretion. Superimposed on vit. E deficiency, growth hormone was without effect clinically and mildly active with respect to N storage for a few days. Both cortisone and growth hormone were diabetogenic in the rabbit.