[Complex biochemical and structural study of skeletal muscles in scoliosis]

Structural study of human scoliosis muscles showed significant dystrophic and degenerative changes: desintegration of fibrillar structure and striation; the Zencker necrosis; the replacement of muscular tissue by connective and adipose tissues. The electron microscopic observation revealed disordering of filamental array of the sarcomere (I- and A-discs), the broadening of Z-disc material, the appearance of N-stripes in I-band. At the same time deviations from the norm were observed in contractile proteins: actin and myosin. ATPase activity of myosin decreased by 25--30%; the flow of birefringence of myosin and especially of actin also decreased. Actin from the scoliosis muscles partially or completely lost the ability for polymerization in 0.1 M KC1.