Catecholamine distribution in mice afflicted with muscular dystrophy

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Abstract
Organs from homozygous dystrophic, heterozygous littermate, and parent strain mice were examined for adrenaline [epinephrine] and noradrenaline [ norepinephrine ] content, and in one case for serotonin content. Epinephrine and norepinephrine were markedly elevated in dystrophic skeletal muscle and adrenal glands; epinephrine was depressed in dystrophic heart. Serotonin was elevated in dystrophic spleens. Littermate tissue catecholamine levels were not found to be significantly different from those of the parent strain. Urinary catecholamines were examined for the 3 genotypes during five 24-hr. periods. The excretions were persistently elevated in dystrophic urine. Lesser amine elevations were observed in littermate urine. Although dopamine elevation persisted, the elevations of epinephrine and norepinephrine in littermate urine disappeared after 3 days. Muscle cyclic 3[image], 5[image] adenosine monophosphate -(AMP content was 40% greater in dystrophies than in the parent strain. Dystrophic muscle changes were not artifacts of the selective atrophy of this organ. Indicated is a functionally significant disturbance of the sympathetic nervous system in mouse dystrophy, in some manner associated with the inheritance of the dystrophic gene.