In vitro radioisotope precursor incorporation into ribonucleic acid and protein in dystrophic mouse gastrocnemius muscle (C57 BL/6J [formula omitted])

An in vitro tissue slice technique has been developed and used to compare radioisotope precursor incorporation into RNA and protein in normal and dystrophic mouse gastrocnemius muscle. Significant differences are observed with both RNA and protein when incorporation is measured on a fresh weight of muscle basis. Specific activity comparisons show significantly increased incorporation with protein but not with RNA. A comparison of the results with in vivo studies has been made. The in vitro system developed is applicable to the study of macromolecular metabolism in normal and diseased human muscle tissue.