title: Glucocorticoids in muscular dystrophy: beneficial effects of dexamethasone on avian myopathy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Entrikin
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Abresch
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Longley
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase