Alterations in some Biochemical Constitutents of Skeletal Muscle of Vitamin E-Deficient Chicks

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Abstract
Chicks were fed two different muscular dystrophy-producing diets, with and without vitamin E, and determinations of glycogen, phosphorylase, dry matter, ash, sodium, potassium and creatine were made on the breast (white) and leg (red) muscles after 4 to 5 weeks of feeding. Body weights were approximately the same and the birds showed no outward manifestation of muscle dystrophy just before autopsy. Gross lesions in the dystrophic muscle were more apparent in the white than in the red muscle, although microscopic detection of lesions in the latter was possible. The changes in creatine and potassium content of dystrophic muscles were variable and any decrease in these constituents in the dystrophic muscles could be explained mainly on the basis of increased water content. The sodium content of dystrophic muscles was increased when expressed on either a wet or dry weight basis. The percentage of dry matter was less in the deficient chick breast muscle than in the normal. Active phosphorylase a and total phosphorylase t concentrations on both wet and dry weight basis were lower in the white muscle of the deficient chick but no consistent changes were detected in red muscle. Although both phosphorylase measurements were higher in white than in red muscle under all conditions, the ratios of a/t were always the same. Glycogen levels were lower in the white dystrophic muscles in comparison with the controls but no difference was observed between the normal and dystrophic red muscle. White muscle is basically richer in glycogen than red muscle. Both diets gave essentially the same results and 5 weeks is a preferred period for these changes to develop.