HYDROXYL RADICAL GENERATION IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE ATROPHIED BY IMMOBILIZATION

Male Wistar rats (15 weeks old), the ankle joints of one hindlimb of w hich were immobilized in the extended position for 12 days, were injec ted with salicylate as a trapping agent for hydroxyl radicals before s acrifice. Atrophied and contralateral soleus, typical slow red muscles were collected and their levels of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHB ), one of the main reaction products formed by the attack of hydroxyl radical on salicylate, were determined using high-performance liquid c hromatography with an electrochemical detector. There was a significan t increase in 2,3-DHB in the atrophied muscle. This result strongly su ggests the enhanced generation in vivo of hydroxyl radicals in atrophi ed muscle.