title: Salbutamol effect in spinal cord injured individuals undergoing functional electrical stimulation training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preliminary study to investigate possible changes in skeletal muscle morphology and function, as well as hormonal and metabolic effects, after treatment with a selective beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-week treatment with salbutamol (2mg) or placebo (ascorbic acid, 50mg) twice a day. Program of functional electronic stimulation (FES) cycling for 30 minutes twice a week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body weight, three measures of leg circumference (gluteal furrow, one third of subischial height up from tibial-femoral joint space, and minimum circumference above the knee), muscle fiber area, and total work output per session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were increases in body weight (2.30 +/- .70kg), leg circumferences (gluteal furrow 1.70 +/- .27cm, one third subischial height 1.53 +/- 1.65cm, minimum circumference above the knee .43 +/- .04cm), and muscle (vastus lateralis) cross-sectional area (1,374 +/- 493 to 2,446 +/- 1,177microm2) after salbutamol treatment, whereas quadriceps muscle contractile function was not modified. Total work output during FES cycling sessions was increased more during salbutamol treatment (64%) compared with training alone (27%). Salbutamol treatment was associated with a large decrease in skeletal muscle beta-adrenergic receptor density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some side effects were noted, these results suggest that a short treatment with the beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist salbutamol during a training program with FES cycling could be beneficial in patients with SCI.
authors.affiliation: Département de Kinésiologie, Université de Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartkopp
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Béliveau
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007328:Insulin; D000420:Albuterol