[Changes in lipid metabolism, oxygen balance and muscle ultrastructure in tetanus in an experiment]

Dogs and white rats with experimental tetanus were examined for blood plasma lipids and red cells, their acid resistance, oxygen balance, cytochrome oxidase and aspartate transaminase activity and muscle ultrastructure. The amount of blood plasma lipids was found to be increased, the lipid content in red cells was lowered because of phospholipid washing out. The red cell resistance was lowered, their sedimentation rate was accelerated. Oxygen metabolism in muscles was first enhanced to form excess lipid peroxides, disturbing the integrity of cell membranes and myocyte ultrastructure, and then it was suppressed because of depletion of the compensatory mechanisms and eventuated in the destruction of part of cells and later on in the death of animals.