Effect of clenbuterol on normal and denervated muscle growth and contractility

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Abstract
The reported anabolic action of some β2 agonists may have clinical applications in certain muscle wasting states. Administration of clenbuterol (2mg/kg diet for 14 days) to rats resulted in a limited degree of hypertrophy of normal muscles; the effect was more pronounced on fast‐twitch muscles than on slow‐twitch muscles. The anabolic effect was greatest in denervated muscles, where it was significantly more effective on the slow‐twitch type. Clenbuterol significantly improved the contractile properties of denervated slow‐twitch muscle, reverting them toward normal, but had little effect on contractile properties of denervated fast‐twitch muscle. Such differential effects of clenbuterol must be taken into consideration in the evaluation of any future human intervention study.