THE BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF CLENBUTEROL - WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TOTAURINE AND MUSCLE DAMAGE

Administration of clenbuterol to rats in the drinking water over a 4 d ay period increased incorporation of [H-3]leucine into muscle protein and caused a slight reduction in urinary 3-methylhistidine but did not result in an increase in body or muscle weight. However, both urinary and liver taurine were significantly reduced at the highest dose of c lenbuterol (2 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1)). Serum creatine kinase, muscle is oenzyme (CK-MM) was raised and single muscle fibre injury was observed in the soleus muscle in animals treated with the middle dose (0.2 mg . kg-(1) . day(-1)) and highest dose (2 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1)). The re duction in the body pool of taurine caused by clenbuterol is of concer n as taurine has been shown to have protective properties.