Heroin-induced myopathy in rat skeletal muscle.

The effects of heroin on rat skeletal muscle was studied. Heroin was injected intraperitoneally, and the soleus and tibial anterior muscles were studied using histological and histochemical techniques. Degenerative and regenerative changes were detected, the latter proving more significant. The soleus was the only muscle affected, the anterior tibial showing no sign of damage. The heroin myopathy model may be valuable in studying muscle fibre necrosis and regeneration.