title: Effects of eugenol on excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.
abstract: The effects of eugenol on the excitation-contraction coupling of the toad (Bufo paracnemis) sartorius were studied. Eugenol (0.1-2.5 mM) blocked the contracture induced by 80 mM K+. At 2.5 mM, it decreased the depolarization, induced by 80 mM K+, by 14 mV. This is not sufficient to explain the complete blockade of the potassium contracture. At higher concentrations (3-12 mM), eugenol induced contractures, without causing a depolarization of the membrane. Contractures were blocked by procaine and potentiated by caffeine and by cooling of the muscle. For concentrations of eugenol in the upper range of the dose-response curve (10 mM), the contracture was independent of the Ca++ concentration in the medium. At lower concentrations (5 mM), the contractures induced by eugenol were potentiated by divalent cations, in the order: Mg++ < Ba++ < Zn++ < Co++ < Ca++ < Mn++. We infer that the eugenol-induced contractures are caused, primarily, by a release of Ca++ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and, secondarily, by a mechanism related to the presence of some divalent cations in the extracellular space.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, Brasil.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Leal-Cardoso
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Coelho-de-Souza
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002025:Bufonidae; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005054:Eugenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011343:Procaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D002110:Caffeine; D005054:Eugenol; D011343:Procaine