Therapeutic approach to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by dantrolene sodium

Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in rats was treated with dantrolene sodium (20 mg/kg/day) from 18th to 34th postinoculation day. At the end of the experimental period, day 35 postinoculation, the drug was shown to improve the disease as suggested by clinical observation and by larger MEPP amplitude and lower curare sensitivity without significant change in titers of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody. Possible mechanisms by which the disease could be affected by the dantrolene-induced accumulation of free calcium in the subcellular store were discussed in relation to roles of calcium in regulation of the receptor protein and related immunity.