Glucocorticoids in muscular dystrophy: beneficial effects of dexamethasone on avian myopathy.
A corticosteroid with mixed glucocorticoid-mineralocorticoid actions was previously shown to improve neuromuscular function in muscular dystrophic chickens. The significance of that finding was recently underscored by reports that a mixed-action corticosteroid improved muscle function in Duchenne dystrophy patients, albeit at high doses. In the present study a pure glucocorticoid improved function and retarded muscle histopathology in the chicken, but a pure mineralocorticoid did not. These observations suggest that elucidation of mechanisms by which glucocorticoids beneficially affect dystrophic muscle could lead to development of more effective therapies.
Entrikin
R K
RK
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
Abresch
R T
RT
Bradford
D P
DP
Larson
D B
DB
Longley
K J
KJ
Wilson
B W
BW
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009132:Muscles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase