Role of β-adrenergic signalling in skeletal muscle wasting: Implications for sarcopenia

Abstract

While the importance of β-adrenergic signalling in the heart has been well documented for more than half a century and continues to receive significant attention, it is only more recently that we have begun to understand the -importance of this signalling pathway in skeletal muscle. There is considerable evidence regarding the stimulation of the β-adrenergic system with β-adrenoceptor agonists (β-agonists) in animals and humans. Although traditionally used for the treatment of bronchospasm, it became apparent that some β-agonists, such as clenbuterol, had the ability to increase skeletal muscle mass and decrease body fat (Ricks et al. 1984; Beerman et al. 1987). These so-called repartitionin..