Influence of dietary protein level on growth: effect of clenbuterol.
1. The influence has been studied of a beta-agonist, clenbuterol, on body weight increase, feed efficiency and muscular tissue growth in Wistar rats of two different weights (70 and 200 g) fed with a diet of differing protein levels (4, 10 and 15%). 2. Treatment with clenbuterol had a negative influence on body growth and feed efficiency when the animals were fed with low protein diets (4%). 3. With a higher protein content (10 and 15%), the situation changed completely, and these indices increased, with a relationship appearing between these changes, the agonist dose and the animal's age. 4. In all the experiments clenbuterol improved muscle/body ratio significantly (P less than 0.001). The favourable effect of clenbuterol on muscle growth is due to a specific increase in protein deposition and not to changes in the water content of muscular tissue, even though these changes may be produced.
Peréz-Llamas
F
F
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Murcia, Spain.
Sastre
J F
JF
Zamora
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives; D024510:Muscle Development; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005503:Food Additives; D002976:Clenbuterol