title: Biphasic potassium contractures in frog muscle fibers.
abstract: Potassium-induced contractures were studied in single fibers from the semitendinosus muscle of Rana pipiens. Contractures elicited by solutions containing 60-117 mM potassium and 120 mM chloride were biphasic, consisting of a rapid initial contraction with a duration at 23 degrees C of less than 1 sec followed by a slow response with a duration of many seconds. At 13 degrees C, the initial response was greatly prolonged so that the two responses virtually fused into a single smooth contracture. Membrane potential in high potassium, high chloride solutions underwent a transient peak depolarization, probably as a result of time-dependent changes in membrane conductance during depolarization. It is proposed that this complex time course of depolarization gives rise to the biphasic contracture response.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002712:Chlorides; D003286:Contracture / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D011188:Potassium; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium