title: The effects of the beta 2-agonist drug clenbuterol on taurine levels in heart and other tissues in the rat.
abstract: The administration of a single subcutaneous dose of clenbuterol to rats altered the level of taurine in certain tissues. Taurine levels in cardiac tissue were significantly decreased 3 h after the administration of 250 micrograms/kg of clenbuterol and remained significantly depressed at 12 h post-dose only returning to control values by 24 h. The level of taurine in the liver increased 3 h after clenbuterol administration but was lower than the control value at 24 h post dose. Lung taurine levels were significantly lower than the control value at 12 hr post dose and remained depressed until 24 h post dose. Clenbuterol caused a significant increase in taurine levels in serum and muscle at 3 and 6 hr postdosing respectively but not at other time points. Serum creatine kinase (CK), activity was slightly but significantly raised at the 12 and 24 h time point. The effects of clenbuterol on tissue taurine content were not dose-dependent over the range studied (63-500 micrograms/kg). However taurine levels in the lung were significantly reduced at all doses and in the heart were significantly lower in the treated groups at all except the lowest dose, 12 h post dosing. Liver taurine levels were significantly increased at the highest dose of 500 micrograms/kg. The reduction of taurine concentrations in the heart, caused by clenbuterol, is of concern as taurine has been shown to have protective properties in many tissues especially the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Doheny
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Waterfield
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Timbrell
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000187:drug effects*; D013654:Taurine / Q000032:analysis*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D014280:Triglycerides; D013654:Taurine; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D002976:Clenbuterol