Effects of slow frequency electrical stimulation on muscles of dystrophic mice

The hind leg muscles of dystrophic mice (C57 BL dy2J/dy2J) wer chronically stimulated at 10 Hz for 30 minutes six times a day. After 14 days of such activity a clinical improvement in the use of the stimulated leg was noticed. The twitch and tetanic tensions developed by the stimulated tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles were higher than those developed by the control, unstimulated muscles on the contralateral side. Histochemically visualised activity of the oxidative enzyme succinic dehydrogenase was greater in fibres of the stimulated muscles. The stimulated muscles contained more muscle fibres than unstimulated controls. It is concluded that slow frequency activity has a beneficial effect on muscles of dystrophic mice.