title: Effects of the beta(2)-agonist clenbuterol on respiratory and limb muscles of weaning rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of chronic administration of the beta(2)-agonist clenbuterol (1.5 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) for 4 wk in the drinking water) on respiratory (diaphragm and parasternal intercostal) and hindlimb (tibialis and soleus) muscles in young rats during postnatal development (21 to 49 postnatal days). The treatment resulted in very little stimulation of muscle growth. Significant slow-to-fast transitions in the expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms and significant increases in the myofibrillar ATPase activity were found in the diaphragm and soleus, whereas tibialis anterior and intercostal muscles did not show any significant fiber-type alteration. Decrease of oxidative enzyme activities and increase of glycolytic enzyme activities were also observed. It is concluded that whereas the growth stimulation is age dependent and only detectable in adult rats, the fiber-type transformation is also present in weaning rats and particularly evident in the soleus and diaphragm. The fiber-type transformation caused by clenbuterol might lead to an enhancement of contractile performance and also to a reduced resistance to fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Biagio, 15100 Alessandria, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Polla
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cappelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boschi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pastoris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reggiani
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004326:Drinking; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D006614:Hindlimb; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D024510:Muscle Development; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000201:enzymology; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000032:analysis; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D002976:Clenbuterol