Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of DHEA with dexamethasone on body weight and wet weight and relative weight of atrophied hindlimb muscles induced by dexamethasone treatment. $200{\sim}225g$ Wistar rats were divided into control(C), dexamethasone(D), dexamethasone and DHEA(DDH) groups. Dexamethasone was injected daily at a dose of 5mg/kg. DHEA was administered daily at a dose of 5mg/kg by oral ingestion during 7days. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test using the SPSSWIN 9.0 program. Body weight and muscle weight of plantaris and gastrocnemius of dexamethasone group decreased significantly compared with that of control group. Muscle weight of plantaris of DDH group increased significantly compared with dexamethasone group. Body weight of DDH group decreased significantly compared to control group, but relative weight of plantaris and gastrocnemius of DDH group increased significantly compared to control group. Based on these results, it can be suggested that DHEA administration during dexamethasone treatment can be suggested that DHEA administration during dexamethasone treatment can increase weight of atrophied plantaris muscle induced by dexamethasone treatment.