Pharmacological Effects and Assays

Beta-adrenergic agonists such as clenbuterol, ractopamine, and zilpaterol are compounds administered to livestock to promote lean muscle growth and improve feed efficiency, but their use raises persistent concerns about residues that enter the food supply and affect human health. Researchers in this area examine how these drugs alter muscle physiology, fat deposition, and meat quality attributes like tenderness and water-holding capacity, while also developing sensitive detection methods—including immunoassays and electrochemical sensors—capable of identifying trace residues in animal tissue and urine. Because regulatory limits and outright bans vary considerably across countries, there is sustained interest in refining detection thresholds and understanding how different withdrawal periods affect residue clearance. Open questions include the long-term physiological consequences of these compounds in animals, and whether emerging biosensor technologies can provide the speed and accuracy needed for routine screening at the scale of commercial meat production.

Works

34,912

Total citations

390,364

Keywords

ClenbuterolRactopamineZilpaterolMeat QualityLivestockPerformance