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The Prevention of Experimental Myopathies by Various Chlorides¹

Institut de Médecine et de Chirurgie Expérimentales, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

Rats fed a potassium- or magnesium-deficient diet for a short period became very sensitive to the myotoxic effect of NaClO₄. In such animals, the perchlorate elicits particularly severe motor disturbances and marked degenerative changes in the skeletal muscles. The occurrence of all these pathologic manifestations was inhibited by the concurrent administration of various chlorides (e.g., KCl, MgCl₂, NaCl, NH₄Cl, CaCl₂) alone or in combination. In this respect, KCl and MgCl₂ were equally effective in both K- and Mg-deficient animals.

Another type of neuromuscular disorder was elicited in rabbits with methylchlorocortisol plus dihydrotachysterol. When NaH₂PO₄ was given in addition to these steroids, the motor disturbance was greatly aggravated and a generalized muscular weakness developed that rapidly progressed to total paralysis and death. These acute paralytic seizures could also be prevented by the oral administration of KCl or MgCl₂.

Manuscript received 18 April 1960.