[Change in concentration of microelements in denervated muscles]

Concentration of Zn, Br, and Rb in intact and denervated rat muscles was estimated by X-ray fluorescent analysis. Differences in the content of these elements at different times after denervation were found. Concentration of microelements (microgram/g dry weight) in denervated muscles was shown to increase by the end of the third week, while that in the intact muscle decreased. The analysis of microelement content in the intact muscle revealed two steps of postdenervational changes: hypertrophic and atrophic ones. Differences between the above changes in microelement concentrations and their content in the intact muscle suggest a hypothesis that protein dissociation and utilization of microelements in muscle cells after denervation proceeds with different rates.