title: Myocardial toxicity in a group of greyhounds administered ractopamine.
abstract: Ractopamine, a synthetic β(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, is widely used as a feed additive in the United States to promote a reduction in body fat and enhance muscle growth in cattle, pigs, and turkeys. It has the potential for illegal use in show and racing animals because it may affect performance via its β-adrenergic agonist properties or anabolic activities. Nine greyhounds were orally administered 1 mg/kg of ractopamine to investigate the ability to detect the drug in urine. Postdosing, 7 of 9 dogs developed cardiac arrhythmias and had elevated troponin levels indicating myocardial damage. One dog necropsied 4 days postdosing had massive myocardial necrosis, mild to focally moderate skeletal muscle necrosis, and widespread segmental arterial mediolysis. A second dog necropsied 17 days postdosing had mild myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. Scattered arteries exhibited segmental medial and perimedial fibromuscular dysplasia. This is the first reported case of arterial, cardiac, and skeletal muscle damage associated with ractopamine.
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. myaeger@iastate.edu
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Yaeger
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mullin
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Ensley
authors: W A
authors: WA
authors: Ware
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Slavin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004285:Dogs; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014336:Troponin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances; D010627:Phenethylamines; D014336:Troponin; C060897:ractopamine