Dose-dependent apoptotic and necrotic myocyte death induced by the β2-adrenergic receptor agonist, clenbuterol

We have investigated the dose- and time-dependency of myocyte apoptosis and necrosis induced by the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist, clenbuterol, with the aim of determining whether myocyte apoptosis and necrosis are two separate processes or a continuum of events. Male Wistar rats were administered subcutaneous injections of clenbuterol, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect myocyte-specific apoptosis and necrosis. Myocyte apoptosis peaked 4 h after, and necrosis 12 h after, clenbuterol administration. In the soleus, peak apoptosis (5.8 +/- 2.0%; P < 0.05) was induced by 10 mu g and peak necrosis (7.4 +/- 1.7%; P < 0.05) by 5 mg.kg(-1) clenbuterol. Twelve hours after clenbuterol administration, 73% of damaged myocytes labeled as necrotic, 27% as apoptotic and necrotic, and 0% as purely apoptotic. Administrations of clenbuterol (10 mu g.kg(-1)) at 48-h intervals induced cumulative myocyte death over 8 days. These data show that the phenotype of myocyte death is dependent on the magnitude of the insult and the time at which it is investigated. Only very low doses induced apoptosis alone; in most cases apoptotic myocytes lysed and became necrotic and the magnitude of necrosis was greater than that of apoptosis. Thus, it is important to investigate both apoptotic and necrotic myocyte death, contrary to the current trend of only investigating apoptotic cell death.