Myocardial Toxicity in a Group of Greyhounds Administered Ractopamine

Ractopamine, a synthetic β2-adrenoceptor agonist, is widely used as a feed additive in the United States to promote a reduction in body fat and enhance muscle growth in cattle, pigs, and turkeys. It has the potential for illegal use in show and racing animals because it may affect performance via it...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary pathology 2012-05, Vol.49 (3), p.569-573
Main Authors: Yaeger, M. J., Mullin, K., Ensley, S. M., Ware, W. A., Slavin, R. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administration, Oral
Adrenergic beta-Agonists - administration & dosage
Adrenergic beta-Agonists - adverse effects
Adrenergic beta-Agonists - urine
Animals
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - chemically induced
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - veterinary
Dog Diseases - chemically induced
Dogs
Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects
Muscle, Skeletal - pathology
Myocardium - pathology
Necrosis - pathology
Necrosis - veterinary
Performance-Enhancing Substances - administration & dosage
Performance-Enhancing Substances - adverse effects
Performance-Enhancing Substances - urine
Phenethylamines - administration & dosage
Phenethylamines - adverse effects
Phenethylamines - urine
Substance Abuse Detection - methods
Substance Abuse Detection - veterinary
Troponin - metabolism
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Summary:Ractopamine, a synthetic β2-adrenoceptor agonist, is widely used as a feed additive in the United States to promote a reduction in body fat and enhance muscle growth in cattle, pigs, and turkeys. It has the potential for illegal use in show and racing animals because it may affect performance via its β-adrenergic agonist properties or anabolic activities. Nine greyhounds were orally administered 1 mg/kg of ractopamine to investigate the ability to detect the drug in urine. Postdosing, 7 of 9 dogs developed cardiac arrhythmias and had elevated troponin levels indicating myocardial damage. One dog necropsied 4 days postdosing had massive myocardial necrosis, mild to focally moderate skeletal muscle necrosis, and widespread segmental arterial mediolysis. A second dog necropsied 17 days postdosing had mild myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. Scattered arteries exhibited segmental medial and perimedial fibromuscular dysplasia. This is the first reported case of arterial, cardiac, and skeletal muscle damage associated with ractopamine.
ISSN:0300-9858
1544-2217
DOI:10.1177/0300985811424752