Damage of skeletal muscle in rats by immunoglobulins. I. Pathophysiological data and lightmicroscopic observations

An experimental model of the autoimmune process was developed to study the pathophysiological and structural changes in immunomyopathies. Immune-sera derived from three muscle proteins--myofibril, myosin and actin--produced immunomyopathies for study. The pathophysiological data show that the general muscle efficiency began to decrease with the early stages of treatment and reflected a severe disorder to muscle function with the progression of time. Parallel changes were also observed by light microscopy.