Anthracene-9-carboxylic acid and haematological and biochemical variables in the rat

Chronic administration of anthracene-9-carboxylic acid in Long-Evans rats had no significant effect on the following haematological and biochemical variables: haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum sodium, potassium, glucose, cholesterol and proteins. In agreement with previous reports, significant age-related differences of glucose and cholesterol concentration were observed. A decrease of body weight was the main finding. The similarities between the myotonia induced by anthracene-9-carboxylic acid and the characteristic myotonic, haematological and biochemical alterations in patients with myotonia congenita, suggest that, despite untoward effects such as a decrease of body weight, chronic anthracene-9-carboxylic acid administration appears to be a good model for the study of mytonia congenita.