The Efficacy of Sulphur Amino Acids and Related Compounds for Protection Against the Development of Muscular Dystrophy in the Chick

Abstract

Chicks fed purified rations low in tocopherol and the sulphur amino acids develop muscular dystrophy in the breast musculature which can be prevented by supplementing the basal diet with methionine, cysteine, cystine, or alpha tocopherol acetate (Machlin and Shalkop, 1956; Jenkins et al., 1962). The mechanism(s) by which the sulphur amino acids and vitamin E prevent muscular degeneration are not known. Our knowledge that methionine is irreversibly converted to cysteine and cystine in the tissues of the bird suggests that the biopotency of methionine may be correlated to its ability to form these amino acids. The experiment reported here was a preliminary investigation of the relation of sulphur amino acid structure to the protection provided against the development of muscular dystrophy in the chick.Day-old, White Plymouth Rock pullets were fed a tocopherol and cystine-deficient basal ration containing 20% casein and 1% l-arginine HC1 (Jenkins et al., 1962) for one …