Clenbuterol increases the expression of myogenin but not myod in immobilised rat muscles. Delday, M I, and C A Maltin. The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
APStracts 4:0042E, 1997.
Immobilisation of one hindlimb of young rats in plantar flexion for 3 days led to changes in the plantaris muscles. These comprised a loss of muscle mass, and a reduction in protein and RNA content, but no change in the transcript levels of the myogenic regulatory factors, myogenin and myoD. Dietary administration of the [beta]-adrenoceptor agonist, clenbuterol (2mg/kg diet), which has been shown to ameliorate muscle wasting in a wide range of atrophic conditions, also limited muscle wasting in terms of weight, protein and RNA in the immobilised plantaris muscles. In addition, drug treatment in immobilised plantaris muscles was associated with a marked increase in the steady state levels of mRNA for myogenin (approximately 360% increase over control), but not myoD. These data provide the first evidence for independent changes in these two myogenic regulatory factors in immobilised muscle and suggest that the action of clenbuterol on these factors may depend on the mechanistic basis for the atrophic response.

Received 25 July 1996; accepted in final form 16 January 1997.
APS Manuscript Number E451-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 20 February 1997