Fig. 9.
Effect of alcohol on protein balance and atrogene expression in cultured C2C12 myotubes. Cells were incubated in the presence of ethanol (80 mM) for 4, 12, and 24 h, and values were compared with time-matched controls. Rates of protein synthesis (top) and protein degradation (middle) were determined in separate wells of cells. Additional myotubes were processed at the same time and showed no alcohol-induced change in atrogin-1 or MuRF1 mRNA content, compared with time-matched control values (bottom). Dexamethasone (Dex; 10 μM) was added to myotubes for 24 h and was used as a positive control. P < 0.05 compared to time-matched control value.