The rainbow trout muscle beta(2)-adrenoceptor system: Impact of beta(2)-agonist feeding

Previous studies showed that beta2-adrenergic agonists (beta 2-AAs) enhanced muscle growth and reduced lipid deposition in animals of agricultural and economical importance, including teleost fish. The goal of the present study was to provide a mechanistic explanation underlying the reported beta2-AA-induced muscle growth in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Using radioligand binding assays and adenylyl cyclase/cAMP assays, this study characterized and demonstrated the presence of functional beta2-adrenoceptors (beta2-ARs) on red and white muscle membranes. Trout fed 40 ppm of two beta2-AAs (clenbuterol and ractopamine) for 30 days showed no significant changes in measured body and physiological parameters, beta2-AR numbers or beta2-AR mRNA levels in red or white muscle. However, treatments significantly increased fractional protein synthesis rates in red and white muscle. These studies demonstrate that beta2-AAs impact muscle protein synthesis by mechanisms initiated at the muscle membrane beta 2-AR and include the beta2-AR-signalling pathway in a teleost fish.