Muscle Fiber (IMAGE) Oregon Health & Science University Caption Scientists at OHSU Doernbecher found the muscle of rodents with isolated inflammation in the brain undergoes rapid atrophy. This process, they discovered, leads to the rapid release of cortisol into the blood, which acts on muscle to elicit wasting (top photo: normal muscle fibers; bottom photo: atrophied muscle fibers as a result of brain inflammation, release of cortisol). Credit Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children's Hospital Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.