Effect of divalent cations on the potassium contracture of slow muscle fibers ofRana temporaria

Caffeine-evoked contractures in single slow (tonic) muscle fibres of the frog (Rana temporaria and R. esculenta)

Single slow (tonic) muscle fibres were dissected from cruralis muscles of Rana temporaria and R. esculenta. Increasing concentrations of caffeine were applied in Ringer solution, and contractures were measured isometrically. Sigmoid caffeine concentration-response curves were obtained, the threshold value being near 1.2 mmol/l, and maximum contractures being obtained with 10 to 20 mmol/l concentrations of caffeine. Contracture solutions were modified by varying the Ca2+ concentration or by replacing Ca2+ with 1.8 mmol/l Mg2+, Ni2+, Co2+ or with 0.1-5.0 mmol/l La3+. The effects of low pH (5.3), K+ (6,10 and 95 mmol/l), adenosine (10 mmol/l) and gallopamil (D600; 30 micromol/l) were examined too. The caffeine threshold was lowered by Mg2+, K+, 0 .1 mmol/l La3+ and D600, while all other substances including 0.5-5.0 mmol/l La3+ increased it. The amplitude of contractures evoked by high caffeine concentrations was unaffected. Caffeine (1-40 mmol/l) was also pressure injected into slow fibres. The composition of the solution was modified in a number of ways, but a contractile response was not observed or measured. Extracellular application of caffeine from the same pipettes evoked local contractures. Similar injection experiments in twitch fibres revealed the same results. These observations suggest that an extracellular binding site seems to be involved in the initiation of caffeine-evoked contractures in intact frog muscle fibres. Possible reasons for the ineffectiveness of intracellular caffeine are discussed.

Activation of two types of fibres in ferret, Mustela putorius furo, cremaster muscle

Some contractile, histochemical, morphological and electrophysiological properties of ferret, Mustela putorius furo, cremaster muscle have been estimated. Histochemical fibre typing revealed the presence of two types of fibres (type I 66.2%, type II 33.8%). Morphometry performed on ATPase-stained transverse sections showed that type I was composed of a large amount (40%) of small (less than 1400 microns2) cells. In mammalian Ringer two groups of fibres could be recognized on the basis of the values of resting potential (-69.7 mV and -59.1 mV) intracellular sodium activity (8.3 mmol.l-1 and 14.1 mmol.l-1, respectively). In experiments on fibre bundles, the elevation of extracellular potassium concentration to 15-200 mmol.l-1 produced contractures that consisted of a well-defined transient or phasic tension followed by a sustained or tonic tension. Properties of activation and inactivation of the tension analysed in small bundles of cut fibres (lengths 0.5-1.0 cm) were of fast- and slow-twitch type for phasic and tonic phase, respectively. In contrast to the phasic component of K contractures, the tonic phase was abolished by Ca2+ withdrawal and inhibited by Ni2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Gd3+ and gallopamil (D600). In Ca(2+)-free medium the sustained tension was restored by adding Sr2+. It is concluded that in ferret cremaster muscle the presence of slow-twitch fibres would give rise to the tonic component of the K contracture in which an extracellular source of activator Ca2+ is involved. The ability of these fibres to contract with a maintained tension for prolonged periods of time might participate in the temperature regulation of the testes.

Competitive action of divalent cations and D600 in frog slow muscle fibers

Single, slow muscle fibers from Rana temporaria were equilibrated in normal Ringer's. 95 mmol/liter K(+)-solution containing various concentrations of Ca2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ or Mg2+ was applied, and the ensuing contractures were recorded isometrically. While peak tension (Fmax) was little affected, maintained tension (measured 1 min after onset of contracture) strongly depended on the concentration and species of divalent cations. Tension was maintained at its peak value in the presence of all species of divalent cations provided their concentrations were adequately increased. Dose-response curves were hyperbolic; Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed straight lines with different slopes intersecting near 1/Fmax, and indicating the following order of efficiency: Ni2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mn2+ much greater than Mg2+. Hill plots for these cations resulted in straight lines with slopes near 1. Qualitatively similar relationships were obtained with contracture solutions containing D600 (3-12 mumol/liter). However, under these conditions higher concentrations of Ca2+ or Ni2+ were required in order to fully maintain tension. After a step concentration change in the medium during contracture, the effects of Ca2+ or D600 were detectable only after a delay of 9 and 18 sec, respectively. It is concluded that divalent cations and D600 compete for the same binding site according to a 1:1 reaction. This site is presumably located inside the transverse tubular system and controls inactivation of the contractile force.

The effect of D600 on potassium contractures of slow muscle fibres of Rana temporaria

(1) The effect of 30 microM D600 on the amplitude and time course of isometric contractures was studied in single slow fibres of Rana temporaria. (2) D600 only slightly reduced the amplitude of contractures evoked with 30 or 95 mM K-Ringer's. Maintenance of tension was strongly impaired by D600 only during exposure to 95 mM K. The caffeine contracture was not affected. (3) Addition of 10 mM Ca2+ or other divalent cations to the medium strongly counteracted the effect of D600 on maintained tension. The order of efficiency was Ca2+ = Ni2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Mn2+ much greater than Mg2+. (4) During 2 min exposure to 95 mM K-Ringer's the slow fibres inactivated to a variable degree; recovery from inactivation in normal Ringer's proceeded with a half time of the order of 1 min, while in the presence of D600 recovery was prolonged 3.3 to 27 times. (5) It is concluded that the effect of D600 on the contractile behaviour of slow fibres from Rana temporaria is predominantly due to a prolongation of the inactivated state. It is suggested that D600 binds to a site at the outer membrane surface which also binds divalent cations and determines the degree of contractile inactivation during exposure to potassium. Blocking of Ca2+ channels is unlikely to be the mechanism of this D600-effect.

Structural alterations in the membrane of the slow muscle fiber of Rana temporaria after denervation

Mixed fiber bundles as well as separated slow and fast fibers from normal and denervated muscles of Rana temporaria were freeze-fractured. The membranes of both fiber types are distinguished in this species by the presence of fairly regularly distributed particle aggregates or arrays of different shapes and sizes; the number per unit area of the membrane is six times higher in fast than in slow fibers. The intramembrane particle (IMP) density is higher in slow than in fast fibers. After denervation, the fast fiber membrane structure does not change whereas the slow fiber membrane acquires the characteristics of the fast fiber, i.e., an increase in the density of particle arrays and a decrease in IMP density. These changes in the slow fiber membrane are compared to the altered physiological properties of this fiber type after denervation.