ELECTROLYTE AND WATER CHANGES IN MUSCLE DURING ATROPHY

Abstract

Studies are reported concerning the electrolyte and water content of normal and atrophic gastrocnemius muscles of the rat. The atrophies were produced by denervation, fasting and tenotomy. The atrophic muscles exhibited increased chloride conc. which was found to be parallel to the extent of atrophy and the relative increase in connective tissue. This finding is regarded as evidence that the chlorides of muscle are chiefly associated with connective tissue rather than the extracellular spaces. Estimations have been made of the distr. of electrolyte and water between the muscle cell and non-muscle cell phases. The values indicate that atrophic muscle cells have a normal conc. of acid-soluble P, K and water. The increase of Ca in muscle during atrophy was parallel to the increase in connective tissue.