Skeletal muscle protein metabolism under denervation atrophy in dog, Canis domesticus.

Denervated dog gastrocnemius muscle has shown a progressive decrease in total protein content, alanine aminotransferase (AIAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity levels and elevation in free amino acid, ammonia, urea, glutamine contents and AMP deaminase activity levels during post-neurectemic days. The possible implications of these findings are discussed in relation to denervation atrophy.