THE INFLUENCE OF FASTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE UPON THE ATROPHY OF DENERVATED SKELETAL MUSCLE

Abstract

In rats the administration of 0.2 gm. glycine per day did not influence the rate of muscle atrophy. No difference was noted between the rate of atrophy of gastrocnemii in 10 rats kept at an environmental temp. of 16-19[degree]C and 10 kept at 31[degree]C. The denervated muscles of 56 fasting rats lost weight more rapidly than those of fasting controls or denervated rats not fasting; but the total loss was less than the sum of the losses encountered by control muscle during fast and by denervated muscle under non-fasting conditions. Denervated muscle was unable to regain the ponderable weight lost in a period of fasting prior to the denervation. It is postulated that fasting causes primarily a loss of storage fractions from the muscle rather than material concerned directly with contractility. Denervated muscle appears to lose the fractions concerned with storage and function and suffers a loss in the property of anabolic synthesis as well.