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

Inhibition of muscle degeneration by the tripeptide calpain inhibitor, leupeptin, 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. Calpain inhibition could be correlated with retention of myofiber size and our results suggest that this may be a promising treatment modality in human Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.