Delay of muscle degeneration and necrosis in mdx mice by calpain inhibition

Inhibition of muscle degeneration by the tripeptide calpain inhibitor, leup eptin, was tested in vivo in a dystrophin-deficient mdx murine model. In a short-term control study, intramuscular administration of leupeptin for 30 days inhibited muscle degeneration as assessed by histologic analysis. Calp ain inhibition could be correlated with retention of myofiber size and our results suggest that this may be a promising treatment modality in human Du chenne muscular dystrophy, (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.