Myotonic Response Induced by Inhibitors of Cholesterol Biosynthesis

Steroid inhibitors of cholesterogenesis containing nitrogen-substituted side chains induced electromyographic myotonia in rats. Cholesterol reduction or desmosterol accumulation, per se, did not cause myotonia, and cholesterol feeding prevented drug-induced myotonia. Desmosterol accumulation in combination with a specific drug effect may cause the observed myotonia.