Methylprednisolone preservation of motor nerve function during early degeneration.

Intensive pretreatment of cats with methylprednisolone acetate (8 mg/kg, i.m. once daily for 7 days) was found to significantly preserve the functional capabilities of degenerating soleus motor nerve terminals, as measured at 48 h after motor axon section in the in vivo soleus nerve-muscle preparation. This effect is similar to that reported previously for triamcinolone, another glucocorticoid.