Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 78, Issue 6 2014-2019, Copyright © 1995 by American Physiological Society
Efficacy of drug regimen exceeds electrostimulation in treatment of avian muscular dystrophy
M. S. Hudecki, S. P. Povoski, C. C. Gregorio, J. A. Granchelli and C. M. Pollina
Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo 14260-1300, USA.
Autosomal-recessive dystrophic chickens were treated in three experimental
groups with an intraperitoneal multicomponent drug mixture (50 mg/kg Ep475,
20 mg/kg Cinanserin, 10 mg/kg stanazolol, 100 mg/kg leucine, 0.1 mg/kg
insulin, 100 mg/kg glucose, and 50 mg/kg carnitine), percutaneous
high-frequency electrostimulation of the pectoralis muscle, or a
combination of both drug and electrostimulation treatments. Therapeutic
efficacy was determined in each group by measurements of strength, righting
ability, and histomorphometric analyses of the pectoralis musculature. Drug
treatment alone was found to significantly improve muscular strength,
function, and relative myofiber necrosis compared with sham-injected
controls. The efficacy of drug treatment was found to be equal to or better
than singular electrostimulation treatment; there was no apparent additive
effect of electrostimulation. As a result, these findings support the use
of drug treatment as a useful nongenetic approach to the management of
human muscular dystrophy where there is the potential risk of injury from
exercise usage.
