Biochemical study of certain enzymes and metabolites of the carbohydrate metabolism in the skeletal muscle of the dengue virus-infected mice.

Changes in enzymes and metabolites of the carbohydrate metabolism in skeletal muscles were studied in mice after intracerebral inoculation of dengue type 2 virus. It was noted that lactic dehydrogenase, aldolase, phosphoglucoisomerase, phosphoglucomutase, GO-T and GP-T activity were enhanced initially by two- to three-fold, reaching a peak on day 5. As the illness appeared in mice, all the enzyme activities were lowered and were about three times less in the paralytic stage on the 8th day as compared to controls. Fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activity was increased on the 4th and 5th days but decreased later. Acid phosphatase increased abruptly from the 6th day while alkaline phosphatase activity was irregular. Creatine increased on the 4th and 5th days but diminished later. Glycogen decreased from the beginning and was lowest on the 5th day, but the levels increased later and were maximum in paralysed muscles. On the other hand, lactic acid began accumulating in the muscles and was maximum on the 5th day, then declined. Dengue virus was detected in the muscles from the 2nd day but higher titres were seen from the 6th day. Changes similar to the preparalytic stage of mice may occur in human beings, causing myalgia.