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.