The influence of clenbuterol on growth in rats.

1. The influence was studied of a beta 2-agonist, clenbuterol, on mean gain of body weight, feed efficiency and growth of muscle tissue in female Wistar rats of three different weights (70, 150 and 200 g). 2. Clenbuterol significantly increases mean gain of body weight and feed efficiency in all the studies realised, but much more effectively in animals of greater age/weight (200 g). 3. In addition, it favours protein deposition in muscle, given that it increases significantly (P less than 0.001) the muscle/body weight ratio in all of the experiments.     

Effects of clenbuterol and propranolol on muscle mass. Evidence that clenbuterol stimulates muscle beta-adrenoceptors to induce hypertrophy.

1. A single subcutaneous injection of clenbuterol hydrochloride (0.125 mg/kg body wt.) to female Wistar rats produced a rapid increase in muscle cyclic AMP and lactate concentrations and a decrease in muscle glycogen concentrations. These changes are characteristic of muscle beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and were abolished by intraperitoneal injection of propranolol (12.5 mg/kg) 15 min before clenbuterol administration. 2. When this dose of clenbuterol was injected twice daily, the changes in muscle metabolite concentrations which followed its acute administration persisted until day 7 of treatment, and were accompanied by increases in muscle mass, body weight and muscle protein synthesis rate (ks). When the clenbuterol injections were preceded by propranolol injections (12.5 mg/kg administered according to the protocol described above), or if animals were treated with propranolol only, the values of these variables were not significantly different from those of sham-injected controls. 3. In rats fed on a semi-synthetic diet (PW3) supplemented with 2 mg of clenbuterol/kg of diet for 7 days, the muscle mass was greater than that of rats fed on unsupplemented PW3. The increased muscle mass was accompanied by increased muscle lactate and decreased muscle glycogen concentrations. When PW3 was supplemented with 2 mg of clenbuterol/kg and 200 mg of propranolol/kg, the increase in muscle mass remained, but decreased muscle glycogen concentrations and increased muscle lactate concentrations were also observed. 4. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that clenbuterol influences muscle growth via beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.     

Effect of a selectiveβ 2-adrenergic agonist (Cenbuterol) on energy balance and body composition in normal and protein deficient rats

In rats fed a normal (22% protein) diet, injection of clenbuterol (1 mg/kg/d for 21 d) did not affect energy intake, energy expenditure or weight gain, but reduced energetic efficiency, and fat and energy gains and increased body protein content. Presenting a low-protein (8%) diet reduced energy intake, gain and efficiency, body protein content and the mass of the gastrocnemius muscle when compared to rats fed the control diet. Injection of the protein-deficient rats with clenbuterol (1 mg/kg/d for 21 d) caused hypophagia and reduced body weight and energy gains, energy expenditure and total body fat. However, the total body content of protein was not significantly reduced and the percentage of body protein in this protein deficient, clenbuterol-treated group was greater than that of untreated rats on both the high- and low-protein diets. The ratio of body protein to fat following clenbuterol treatment was increased by over 50% in both normal and protein-deficient rats. The results show that in protein deficient animals, clenbuterol treatment may help conserve body protein at the expense of fat, resulting in a smaller, but leaner body mass.     

Feed intake and protein skeletal muscle in growing mice treated with growth hormone: time course effects

The exogenous recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) administration on gastrocnemius muscle growth performance and its contribution to body growth of male and female BALB/c mice fed a 12 % protein diet from 25 to 50 days of age, as well as the mechanism of utilization of feed intake to the lean muscle deposition were studied. Male and female weaning mice (21 days of age) were injected subcutaneously for 29 days with rhGH (74 ng x g(-1)) or saline vehicle (control). Feed intake and body weight (BW) were measured daily. At 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 days of age twenty mice were killed by cervical dislocation and the gastrocnemius muscle was isolated, weighed and the protein content was measured. The rhGH administration caused a biphasic response of BW and muscle growth as a consequence of age-specific feed intake changes. The initial feed intake fall induced the allometric proportion decreases in both muscle growth versus body growth and protein muscle versus muscle growth. That effect was due to ineffient utilization of energy and protein intake on protein muscle store. Later on, the self-controlled increase of feed intake leads to the recovery of muscle weight to control values, through nutrient partitioning toward non protein tissue showing a compensatory muscle growth. This suggests that a higher dietary protein level should be necessary for promoting the protein anabolic effect of GH during weaning.     

Repartitioning effect of a mixed beta-agonist on body composition

Subcutaneous administration of a mixed beta-agonist to young rats induced no changes in animal growth and food conversion efficiency. However, a repartitioning effect was found with increases in lean tissue and decreases in body fat. The enhancement of muscle protein deposition was attributed to a fall in protein breakdown as muscular cathepsin A activity was lower in treated rats. A reduction of muscle reduction-oxidation state is associated to those changes in protein metabolism.     

Cellular effects of adrenosterone feeding to juvenile carp, Cyprinus carpio L., effect on liver, kidney, brain and muscle protein and nucleic acids

Different groups of juvenile common carp (3–4 g) were fed diets supplemented with adrenosterone at doses of 1.0, 2.5 and 10.0 mg kg^-1 for 60 days and the effect on food conversion efficiency and cellular growth responses of liver, kidney, brain and muscle were investigated. At the end of the hormone feeding phase an increase of 40–75% was observed in food conversion efficiency. No change in hepato-somatic and viscero-somatic index was observed, but brain and kidney weights in relation to body weight was decreased compared with the controls. Variable changes in protein, RNA/DNA, protein/RNA and protein/DNA were seen in liver, kidney, brain and muscle. Feeding of the steroid for 60 days increased the water content of the muscle but ash contents of the muscle were decreased. No change in the total muscle lipids and total nitrogen content were observed. After the removal of the drug from the feed, some of the changes reported were ameliorated.     

饲料蛋白水平对大规格草鱼生长、饲料利用和氮代谢相关酶活性的影响

为探讨饲料蛋白水平对草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）生长、饲料利用和氮代谢的影响,以鱼粉和酪蛋白为蛋白源制备蛋白水平分别为15%、20%、25%、30%和35%的5种等能（13.71 kJ/g）饲料饲养草鱼（20910） g 8周。结果表明:饲料蛋白水平对草鱼的增重率、特定生长率、饲料效率均影响显著（P0.05）,其中25%蛋白组最高。通过二次多项式的回归分析得出:当饲料蛋白水平为26.50%和27.20%的时候,特定生长率和饲料效率分别达到最高。15%蛋白组的摄食率显著高于其他蛋白组（P0.05）。蛋白质保留率和蛋白质效率随蛋白水平的升高而显著降低（P0.05）。各蛋白组的成活率、血清丙氨酸转氨酶活性和血清天冬氨酸转氨酶活性均无显著差异（P0.05）。血清总蛋白、血清尿素氮、肝脏天冬氨酸转氨酶活性、肝脏谷氨酸脱氢酶活性和肌肉腺苷酸脱氨酶活性随蛋白水平的升高显著增加（P0.05）,而肝脏丙氨酸转氨酶活性先增加后稳定,这表明高蛋白组（30%和35%蛋白组）相对于低蛋白组（15%和20%蛋白组）有较多的蛋白质用于分解代谢提供能量。       

Influence of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, body composition and utilization efficiencies of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus L.

Growth, body composition and feed utilization were evaluated for Arctic charr fed a control diet and nine practical diets formulated to contain three protein levels (34, 44 or 54%) at each of three lipid levels (10, 15 or 20%). Fish were raised for 24 weeks at 12° C. Increasing either dietary protein and/or lipid resulted in improved weight gain, feed efficiency and energy retained. Protein efficiency ratio and protein retained were directly related to dietary lipid and inversely related to dietary protein. A sparing effect of lipid on protein was evident where, at each protein level, Arctic charr utilized protein more efficiently with each increase in dietary lipid. Levels of 34% protein and/or 10% lipid were well below the requirements for Arctic charr (initial weight, 4.6 g). Within the range tested, the dietary combination of 54% protein with 20% lipid maximized weight gain and feed efficiency and resulted in fish with low liver and body lipid contents. However, if lowest feed cost per kg gain is an important factor, the 44% protein—20% lipid diet would be less expensive to use, although it results in a minor reduction in growth potential.     

饲料蛋白和脂肪水平对青鱼大规格鱼种生长和体组成的影响

设计5个饲料蛋白水平（30%、33%、36%、39%和42%）和2个脂肪水平（6%和9%）的52的因子试验,配制10种试验饲料,分别饲喂10组三重复平均体重为95.5 g的二龄青鱼70d,以探讨不同蛋白和脂肪水平对青鱼生长和体组成等的影响。结果表明: 鱼体增重随饲料蛋白水平从30%提高到39%不断增加（P0.05）,进一步提高饲料蛋白水平至42%时,鱼体增重则不再显著变化（P0.05）;饲料系数随饲料蛋白水平从30%提高到39%而不断降低（P0.05）,进一步提高饲料蛋白水平至42%时,也不再显著变化;蛋白质效率和蛋白保留率随饲料蛋白水平呈下降趋势;以鱼体增重为指标,经折线模型进行回归分析求得适宜的饲料蛋白水平为占干饲料的40%。饲料蛋白、脂肪水平及其交互作用对的试验鱼成活率均无显著差异（P0.05）。饲料脂肪水平、饲料蛋白与脂肪的交互作用对鱼体增重、饲料系数、摄食率和蛋白质效率也均无显著影响（P0.05）。摄食蛋白水平为30%和33%饲料的青鱼与摄食蛋白水平36%-42%饲料的青鱼相比,有较低的水分和较高全鱼脂肪（P0.05）。青鱼脏体比和肌肉粗脂肪含量均随着饲料中蛋白水平的提高呈降低的趋势。摄食脂肪水平为9%的饲料的青鱼较摄食脂肪水平为6%的饲料的青鱼,有较高脏体比、全鱼脂肪含量和肌肉粗脂肪含量（P0.05）。上述结果说明,青鱼摄食低蛋白和高脂肪的饲料造成过多的体脂积累。在试验条件下,青鱼大规格鱼种饲养阶段适宜的饲料蛋白和脂肪水平分别为占干饲料的40%和6%。       

Estimation of growth potential by measurement of tissue protein synthetic rates in feeding and fasting rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnerii Richardson

Protein synthesis in liver, gill and muscle tissue was measured in vivo by constant infusion of ¹⁴C-tyrosine in fed and fasted freshwater rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnerii , at 12° C. Synthesis rates (percentage of tissue protein synthesized per day) were 15-17% in liver, 4–5% in gill and 0.38% in muscle of fed fish. Liver and gill synthesis rate showed no significant change in fish that had been without food for 15 days, whereas muscle protein synthesis fell to 0.09%. The greater susceptability of muscle protein synthesis to fasting, possibly results from the greater proportion of synthesis retained as growth in this tissue. Growth rates indicate little change in protein turnover in the muscle but increased protein degradation with fasting. The difference between fed and fasted synthesis rates in muscle may be used as a measurement of potential growth rate for a particular species.     

Effects of chronic heat exposure and protein intake on growth performance, nitrogen retention and muscle development in broiler chickens

The respective effects of ambient temperature, dietary crude protein and feed intake were investigated in finishing chickens and the consequence of protein supplementation under high temperature conditions was analysed in particular. Heat-related reduction in growth was associated with decreased nitrogen retention (-30 or -35% according to the diet), which could not be explained by the observed lower feed intake alone. Tissue samples performed in 5- to 6-week-old chicks showed varying effects of heat according to the muscles studied: at 32 degrees C, the proportion of Pectoralis major muscle (in percentage of body weight) appeared slightly reduced (reduction lower than 10%), whereas the proportion of two leg muscles were increased (+10 to +15% for the Sartorius muscle; +5% for the gastrocnemius muscle). At 32 degrees C, providing a high protein diet significantly (P < 0.05) increased weight gain and feed efficiency, and slightly improved whole body protein deposition.     

Growth and dietary utilisation in goldfish (Carassius auratus Linn.) fed diets formulated with various local agro-produces

During a 60 d feeding trial, goldfish (Carassius auratus) measuring 1.66+/-0.02 g by weight and 4.2+/-0.02 mm by length were fed diets containing 23.34%, 26.21%, 29.30%, 32.24% and 42.53% crude protein in Feeds I through V respectively. The four formulated-diets (Feeds I, II, IV and V) contained groundnut oil-cake, wheat bran, soybean meal, fish meal, cod liver oil, vegetable oil and vitamin-mineral mixture with tapioca as binder and a commercially-available diet (Feed III) procured from the market. All the feeds were dispensed twice daily at 4% body weight. Results revealed that the growth (in terms of net weight gain and specific growth rate) and dietary utilisation (in terms of feed conversion ratio, protein retention efficiency and energy retention efficiency) were observed to be significantly greater (p < or = 0.05) in Feed V which contained 42.53% protein followed by Feeds IV, I, II and III, and 7.58%, 6.11%, 6.63%, 7.86% and 7.91% lipid in Feeds I through V, describing clearly the role of a combination of protein and lipid in the diet for growth and feed utilisation. Lowest growth and dietary utilisation was observed in Feed III (the commercial diet). The alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in liver, gill and intestine as also the RNA:DNA ratio in the muscle tissues were greatest in fish fed Feed V, which indicated best growth. It was thus concluded that a protein content of 40-45% in the diet of young goldfish could significantly enhance growth and dietary utilisation.     

Changes in the expression of uncoupling proteins and lipases in porcine adipose tissue and skeletal muscle during feed deprivation*(1)

The hormone-sensitive and lipoprotein lipases are critical determinants of the metabolic adaptation to starvation. Additionally, the uncoupling proteins have emerged with potential roles in the metabolic adaptations required by energy deficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression (mRNA abundance) of uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 and that of hormone-sensitive and lipoprotein lipase in the adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of the pig in relationship to feed deprivation. Thirty-two male castrates (87 kg +/- 5%) were assigned at random to fed and feed-deprived treatment groups. After 96 hr, the pigs were euthanized and adipose and skeletal muscle tissue obtained for total RNA extraction and nuclease protection assays. Feed deprivation increased uncoupling protein 3 mRNA abundance 103-237% (P < 0.01) in longissimus and red and white semitendinosus muscle. In contrast, the increase in uncoupling protein 3 mRNA in adipose tissue was only 23% (P < 0.06), and adipose uncoupling protein 2 mRNA was not influenced (P > 0.66) by feed deprivation. The increased abundance of uncoupling protein 2 mRNA in the longissimus muscle of feed-deprived pigs was small (22%), but significant (P < 0.04). The expression of hormone-sensitive lipase was increased 46% and 64% (P < 0.04) in adipose tissue and longissimus muscle, respectively, by feed deprivation, whereas adipose lipoprotein lipase expression was reduced (P < 0.01) to 20% of that of the fed group. Longissimus lipoprotein lipase expression in the feed-deprived group was 37% of that of the fed group (P < 0.01), and similar reductions were detected in red and white semitendinosus muscle. Overall, these findings indicate that uncoupling protein 3 expression in skeletal muscle is quite sensitive to starvation in the pig, whereas uncoupling protein 2 changes are minimal. Furthermore, we conclude that hormone-sensitive lipase is upregulated at the mRNA level with prolonged feed deprivation, whereas lipoprotein lipase is downregulated.     

Skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms and energy metabolism after clenbuterol treatment in the rat

Prolonged treatment with the beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist clenbuterol (1-2 mg. kg body mass(-1). day (-1)) is known to induce the hypertrophy of fast-contracting fibers and the conversion of slow- to fast-contracting fibers. We investigated the effects of administering a lower dose of clenbuterol (250 microgram. kg body mass(-1). day (-1)) on skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein isoform content and adenine nucleotide (ATP, ADP, and AMP) concentrations. Male Wistar rats were administered clenbuterol (n = 8) or saline (n = 6) subcutaneously for 8 wk, after which the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles were removed. We demonstrated an increase of type IIa MyHC protein content in the soleus from approximately 0.5% in controls to approximately 18% after clenbuterol treatment (P < 0.05), which was accompanied by an increase in the total adenine nucleotide pool (TAN; approximately 19%, P < 0.05) and energy charge [E-C = (ATP + 0.5 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP); approximately 4%; P < 0.05]. In the EDL, a reduction in the content of the less prevalent type I MyHC protein from approximately 3% in controls to 0% after clenbuterol treatment (P < 0.05) occurred without any alterations in TAN and E-C. These findings demonstrate that the phenotypic changes previously observed in slow muscle after clenbuterol administration at 1-2 mg. kg body mass(-1). day(-1) are also observed at a substantially lower dose and are paralleled by concomitant changes in cellular energy metabolism.     

饲料中不同蛋白、脂肪水平对春鲤生长、饲料利用和体成分的影响

研究旨在探讨洱海土著鱼类春鲤(Cyprinus longipectoralis)(初始体重0.55 g)对蛋白质和脂肪的需求量。实验采用3×3双因子设计,蛋白水平为33%、39%和45%,脂肪水平为5%、8%和11%,共9组等能饲料。实验在水温为(28±2)℃的室内微流水系统中进行,为期56d。实验结果表明:随着蛋白水平的提高,摄食率显著降低(P<0.05),饲料效率、能量沉积率、鱼体水分和脂肪含量显著升高(P<0.05),但特定生长率、蛋白质效率、蛋白沉积率、鱼体灰分含量和能值均无显著变化(P>0.05)。随着脂肪水平的提高,特定生长率、蛋白沉积率和鱼体蛋白含量显著下降,鱼体脂肪含量显著上升(P<0.05),而摄食率、饲料效率、能量沉积率、鱼体水分和灰分含量以及能值则无明显变化(P>0.05)。通过折线回归分析得出,当饲料中蛋脂比为7.30时,春鲤有最大的特定生长率。研究结果表明,春鲤饲料中适宜的蛋白和脂肪水平分别为33%—34%和4%—5%。     

双低菜粕高水平替代饲料鱼粉对大黄鱼潜在风险的评估:生长、健康和营养价值

研究从生长、健康和营养价值方面评估了高水平的双低菜粕替代饲料鱼粉对大黄鱼潜在的危害。在鱼粉含量60%的基础饲料（FM）上按照质量分数用双低菜粕分别替代15%（CM15）、30%（CM30）、60%（CM60）和100%（CM100）的鱼粉,配制成5种实验饲料。每种饲料投喂5个网箱的大黄鱼[初重（135.38±1.02）g],即每个处理5个重复,进行12周的养殖实验。结果表明,当双低菜粕替代水平在15%和30%时,大黄鱼的生长及饲料系数并没有受到显著性的影响。然而,当替代水平高于30%时,大黄鱼的末重和特定生长率均显著降低,而饲料系数显著升高（P < 0.05）。当替代水平达到100%时,大黄鱼摄食率达到最高值而肥满度达到最低值（P < 0.05）。在组织形态方面,大黄鱼摄食双低菜粕替代的饲料后肠道绒毛的弯曲程度减少并且排列更加不规则,而肝细胞则呈现出圆形空泡状并伴随着细胞核的偏移。对大黄鱼骨骼进行X-射线扫描发现,摄食双低菜粕的大黄鱼椎体和头部出现了畸形。在营养价值方面,双低菜粕替代鱼粉并未显著影响大黄鱼背肌的脂肪含量、蛋白含量和氨基酸组成,然而脂肪酸组成受到了显著影响,即N-6系列脂肪酸含量显著升高,而DHA与EPA含量显著降低（P < 0.05）。根据欧洲食品安全局（EFSA）的相关标准,这些营养价值的变化并没有影响大黄鱼作为健康食品的功能。由此可见,高水平（60%和100%）的双低菜粕替代鱼粉对大黄鱼的负面影响主要表现为降低大黄鱼的生长性能、改变肠道和肝脏组织形态,以及影响大黄鱼的骨骼健康。然而,双低菜粕替代鱼粉养殖大黄鱼的肌肉仍然符合人类的膳食要求。因此,双低菜粕替代鱼粉并没有影响大黄鱼作为食用鱼的营养价值。     

Effects of gonadal steroids and adrenergic agonists on avian growth and feed efficiency

The effects of gonadal steroids and adrenergic agonists in growing poultry are reviewed. Estrogens, used commercially to caponize, improve muscle palatability and weight gain but are hyperlipidemic and adversely affect feed efficiency. Their ability to caponize results from the fact that negative feedback regulation of gonadotropin secretion is mediated by estrogen synthesized within the male's central nervous system. Androgens are strongly anabolic in avian species but are deleterious to growing bone. Thus, androgens depress growth and efficiency when given before epiphyseal closure but stimulate gain and improve efficiency when given afterwards. The beta-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol improves the growth and efficiency of broiler chickens. The effects of beta-agonists on muscle, adipogenic tissue, and the endocrine system are presented as possible mechanisms for these actions.     

Vitamin E supplementation in diet ameliorates growth of Nile tilapia by upgrading muscle health

Vitamin E (VE), an important lipid-soluble antioxidant, has great influence on growth and maintenance in animal. The effects of VE supplemented diet on growth and feed usage in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was investigated in this study. Three formulated diets containing VE (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were fed to Nile tilapia (3.56 ± 0.16 g) in glass aquaria maintaining three replicate groups for 56 days (8 weeks). Survival, growth performance including weight gain, percent weight gain, and specific growth rate (WG, % WG, and SGR), and feed utilization comprising protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio (PER and FCR) were calculated. Hemato-biochemical indices including hemoglobin level (Hb), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) and glucose level were analyzed. In addition, muscle morphology was examined after completion of the experiment. At the end of the trial, WG, %WG, SGR, FCR and PER increased significantly which had dietary VE supplimentation. However, no distinct changes were observed in Hb level, RBC count, WBC count and glucose level among these different dietary groups. Dietary VE treatments significantly upgraded the muscle fiber diameter and lowered the intra-muscle gap. Moreover, quantity of hyperplastic muscle fiber as well as nucleus also significantly enhanced by VE. Morphological structure of muscle characterized by a huge proportion of hyperplastic muscle that may be supposed to contribute the enhanced growth of Nile tilapia receiving VE supplemented diet. Therefore these results suggested that VE incorporation into the feed can be effective to improve the feed efficiency and maximize the growth of O. niloticus.