Phosphorylase and Glycogen Levels in Skeletal Muscle of Mice with Hereditary Myopathy

Abstract

Measurements of the activity of active phosphorylase a and total phosphorylase t were made on thigh, fore-limb and abdominal muscles of mice with hereditary dystrophia muscularis and of their littermate controls. Both active and total phosphorylase were significantly lower in dystrophic muscles but the ratios of a/t were no different. Similar results were reported in progressive muscular dystrophy of man. Glycogen concentration of the dystrophic thigh muscle was higher than normal. Body weights and width of the tibial epiphyseal cartilages in the dystrophic mice were 30% less than normal suggesting a hormonal involvement in these animals.