Effects of a beta 2-adrenergic agonist, cimaterol and corticosterone on growth and carcass composition of male rats.
1. Growth rate and carcass composition were measured in rats treated with cimaterol or vehicle only for 21 days, with corticosterone administered during the last 7 days of cimaterol or vehicle only treatment. 2. Cimaterol significantly stimulated the amount of protein in the carcass as well as gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles by 9-15%, and decreased carcass fat by 24%. 3. Corticosterone treatment significantly decreased protein in the carcass and soleus, plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles by 13-33%. 4. The catabolic effects of corticosterone on carcass and muscle protein were reduced by pretreatment with cimaterol, suggesting that beta-adrenergic agonists may have some potential use in preventing muscle wasting during stressed states.
School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Berkshire, U.K.
J
J
Brown
C
C
Clasper
T
T
Smith
M A
MA
Lomax
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D004983:Ethanolamines; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D003345:Corticosterone; C047411:cimaterol