title: Mode of stimulatory actions of cadmium ion on the mouse diaphragm.
abstract: Effects of Cd2+ on the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation of the mouse varied markedly in media containing various Ca2+ concentrations. In normal 2.5 mM Ca2+ medium, Cd2+ inhibited acetylcholine release from nerve endings without appreciable effect on the muscle membrane. However, Cd2+ elicited stimulatory effects on the muscle membrane in low Ca2+ medium (10(-3)-1 mM). These stimulatory effects included the induction of spontaneous contractions, augmentation of twitch responses to direct electrical stimulation and potentiation of the muscle contracture induced by acetylcholine, carbachol and high K+. By contrast, caffeine contracture was not affected by Cd2+. Tetrodotoxin, procaine, cysteine and glycerol pretreatment abolished these stimulatory effects of Cd2+. Moreover, changing the ionic composition of the bathing medium to one containing low Na+, high K+, high Mg2+ or high Ca2+ also antagonized these effects of Cd2+. In contrast, low Mg2+ markedly potentiated the frequency of spontaneous contractions induced by Cd2+. (+)-Tubocurarine and beta-bungarotoxin had no effect on Cd2+-induced spontaneous contractions indicating that they may be myogenic rather than neurogenic in origin. By use of conventional microelectrodes, it was found that Cd2+ not only depolarized the muscle membrane but also induced spontaneous action potentials at a high frequency (173 +/- 17 Hz). It is concluded that increased Na+ permeability of the muscle membrane is the essential step bringing about spontaneous contractions. The binding of Cd2+ to -SH groups of the membrane is closely related to the induction of these effects.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002412:Cations; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011343:Procaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D002104:Cadmium; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D011343:Procaine; D002217:Carbachol; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D003545:Cysteine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D005990:Glycerol; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium