EFFECT OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE ON MUSCLE ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND NONSPECIFIC ESTERASE

Abstract
Acetylcholinesterases [EC 3.1.1.7] in the muscle homogenates of hamsters receiving ACTH i.p. for 6 wk were reduced as compared to activities in control samples. In polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis of the ACTH-treated muscles some acetylcholinesterase bands were absent. These observations may be significant in explaining the ACTH-induced improvement in myasthenia gravis patients and in the pathophysiology of steroid myopathy.