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.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Murcia, Spain.
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Peréz-Llamas
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Sastre
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Zamora
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