20:T536,Effects of an antioxidant, vitamin E, and a membrane stabilizing agent, zinc, were examined on the isoproterenol-induced changes in the rat myocardium. Isoproterenol treatment (80 mg/kg given over 2 days in two equal doses) caused arrhythmias and 25% mortality within 24 h of the last injection. The ultrastructural changes in the subendocardium and in focal areas of the subepicardium included swelling of mitochondria, loss of myofibrils, cell necrosis, fibrosis, and infiltration of the affected areas by polymorphonucleocytes. Both creatine phosphate and adenosine triphosphate levels were markedly decreased in hearts from isoproterenol-treated animals. Pretreatment of the animals with vitamin E (10 mg X kg-1 X day -1 for 2 weeks) or zinc (10 mg/kg ZnSO4, twice a day for 7 days) prevented these deleterious effects of isoproterenol. Animals maintained on vitamin E deficient diet for 8 weeks were found to be more sensitive to isoproterenol-induced changes and this increased sensitivity was reversed by a 2-week feeding of the animals on the normal diet coupled with vitamin E treatment. Based on the data obtained in this study it is proposed that catecholamine-induced changes may involve free radicals, which by promoting lipid peroxidation may increase membrane permeability and lead to the development of cardiomyopathy.21:T436,

Introduction

Since the report of Sibley and Lehninger¹on the increase of serum aldolase activity in 2 patients with progressive muscular dystrophy in 1949, which was later confirmed by Schapira, Dreyfus, and Schapira²and many other workers,^3-8the activity of enzymes in serum, especially that of aldolase, has been considered to be the most reliable biochemical test for the diagnosis of progressive muscular dystrophy. Furthermore, a number of different enzymes, including glutamic oxalacetic transaminase⁹and lactic dehydrogenase,⁸have been reported to be increased in the sera of patients with this disease. Recently we added creatine phosphokinase to the list of such enzymes.¹⁰The present communication is concerned with the determination of creatine phosphokinase and aldolase activities in the sera of patients with progressive muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases.

Material and Method

Ninety cases of progressive muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases, 15 cases of liver22:T5ed,

	Year	Citations

Abstract

References