Hydroxyl radical generation in skeletal muscle atrophied by immobilization.

Male Wistar rats (15 weeks old), the ankle joints of one hindlimb of which were immobilized in the extended position for 12 days, were injected with salicylate as a trapping agent for hydroxyl radicals before sacrifice. Atrophied and contralateral soleus, typical slow red muscles were collected and their levels of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHB), one of the main reaction products formed by the attack of hydroxyl radical on salicylate, were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector. There was a significant increase in 2,3-DHB in the atrophied muscle. This result strongly suggests the enhanced generation in vivo of hydroxyl radicals in atrophied muscle.