Stimulation frequency and external ionic composition control the repriming of caffeine-induced contractures in frog skeletal muscle.
The effect of stimulation rate and of external ionic composition on the repriming period of contractures induced by 6 mM caffeine was tested on isolated skeletal muscle fibres of the frog (Rana ridibunda). The repriming period, which was 11.2 +/- 0.1 min (mean +/- SEM, n = 9) on quiescent fibres, was shortened in fibres stimulated at a frequency ranging from 3 to 12 min-1 (optimal rate, 8 min-1; full repriming 5.7 +/- 0.2 min; n = 10). A 10-fold increase in the extracellular calcium concentration shortened the repriming period on both stimulated and quiescent fibres, whereas decreasing external calcium (1/10) delayed it. In a Na+-free solution (Li+ substituted) the repriming period of stimulated fibres was markedly delayed (14 min), whereas quiescent fibres never recover more than 10% of their ability to develop subsequent caffeine contractures. In contrast, with a 35% Na solution, the repriming period was greatly shortened (stimulated, 5.4 +/- 0.2 min, n = 7; quiescent, 6.2 +/- 0.5 min, n = 8). It is concluded that repriming depends on three mechanisms that seem to refill a calcium store and trigger recovery: the slow inward calcium current, a Na+-Ca2+ exchange, and perhaps a passive Ca2 influx.
D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007477:Ions; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011895:Rana ridibunda; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012996:Solutions
D007477:Ions; D012996:Solutions; D002104:Cadmium; D002110:Caffeine; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium