COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF BETA(2)-ADRENERGIC AGONISTS ON MUSCLE WASTE ASSOCIATED WITH TUMOR-GROWTH

The implantation of the Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma (a fast growin g tumour) to rats resulted in a dramatic loss of both white adipose ti ssue and muscle (skeletal and cardiac) mass. Administration of beta(2) -adrenergic agonists to tumour-bearing rats resulted in a partial reco very of skeletal muscle and heart mass. Treatment of the tumour-bearin g animals with the different drugs (salbutamol, salmeterol and clenbut erol) did not influence tumour growth or food intake so it can be sugg ested that the effects were solely due to metabolic changes. In additi on, while the three drugs had clear effects on gastrocnemius muscles, clenbuterol and salbutamol had also an effect on soleus, and salbutamo l had a clear effect on cardiac muscle. It is suggested that any of th e studied Pz-adrenergic agonists (but perhaps, particularly salmeterol ) could be used clinically in the treatment of cancer cachexia. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.