The beta 2-adrenergic agonist terbutaline suppresses acute passive transfer experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG).
Treatment of Lewis rats with the beta 2-adrenergic agonist terbutaline suppressed clinical symptoms of acute passive transfer EAMG induced with monoclonal anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody and accelerated clinical recovery in affected animals. Electrophysiological studies showed that the amplitude of the first compound muscle action potential was significantly larger in terbutaline-treated rats as compared to controls. In both groups, a comparable number of inflammatory cells at the muscle endplates was seen.