title: Caffeine-induced blockade of neuromuscular transmission and its reversal by dantrolene sodium.
abstract: Caffeine, 10(2) M, blocked the indirectly stimulated rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation at 37 degrees C. Dantrolene, above 2.25 x 10(-7) M, reversed the blockade. Microelectrode recordings showed a gradual reduction of the end plate potential (EPP) amplitude following a period of facilitation. An increased frequency of miniature (EPPs was still recorded after complete EPP blockade. A presynaptic blockade of stimulus-secretion coupling caused by an effect upon Ca2+ balance is suggested. Caffeine may release and deplete Ca2+ from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in the nerve terminals. This Ca2+ may be sequestered by the mitochondria. The blockade suggests that the SER may also supply Ca2+ to another intraterminal release site which is necessary for stimulus-secretion coupling. This site is unaffected by caffeine and dantrolene. The dantrolene reversal may result from inhibition of the caffeine-induced release from the same Ca2+ pool. The facilitatory effects of caffeine were not antagonized by dantrolene and may result from Ca2+ release from another pool.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000494:pharmacology; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012430:Ruthenium Red / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012430:Ruthenium Red; D002110:Caffeine; D003620:Dantrolene; D002794:Choline; D002118:Calcium; D014403:Tubocurarine