Table 3.

Selected pharmacologic parameters following 4 weeks of daily formoterol or salmeterol administration (n=8 rats dose⁻¹)

	Formoterol	Salmeterol
EDL
Emax (% control)	130.2±2.1	142.7±3.1*
Log ED50 (mM kg−1 day−1)	−5.8±0.3	−3.7±0.9*
ED50 (μg kg−1 day−1)	(0.3⩽1⩽6)	(63⩽130⩽253)*
Soleus
Emax (% control)	119.1±4.4	130.7±4.1*
Log ED50 (mM kg−1 day−1)	−6.1±0.9	−3.9±0.3
ED50 (μg kg−1 day−1)	(0.003⩽0.7⩽167)	(16⩽74⩽337)
Heart
Emax (% control)	125.4±3.2	120.3±2.9
Log ED50 (mM kg−1 day−1)	−4.9±0.3	−4.0±0.3
ED50 (μg kg−1 day−1)	(0.2⩽11⩽69)	(9⩽59⩽401)

CI: confidence interval, EDL: extensor digitorum longus, ED₅₀: drug concentration at half of the maximum effect, E_max: maximum hypertrophic effect.

^*P<0.05 formoterol vs salmeterol.

Note that ED₅₀ values are presented as 95% CI.