title: Effects of fatiguing stimulation on intracellular Na+ and K+ in frog skeletal muscle.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the alterations in the intracellular concentrations of sodium ([Na+]i) and potassium ([K+]i) and the membrane potential (Em) as a result of fatiguing stimulation of the frog semitendinosus muscle and to relate these changes to the alterations in the sarcolemma action potential and force-generating ability of the muscle. [Na+]i and [K+]i were measured by using ion-selective microelectrodes. Before stimulation (100-ms trains at 150 Hz, 1 stimulus/s for 5 min), [Na+]i, [K+]i, and Em were 16 +/- 1 mM, 142 +/- 5 mM, and -83 +/- 1 mV, respectively. As a result of stimulation, [Na+]i rose to 49 +/- 6 mM and recovered to 16 +/- 2 mM with a time constant (tau) of 70 s.[K+]i fell to 97 +/- 8 mM as a result of stimulation, then recovered to 148 +/- 5 mM with tau = 56 s. Em depolarized to -74 +/- 3 mV then recovered to -83 +/- 2 mV with tau = 53 s. The Na+/K+ permeability ratio of the resting membrane fell 3%, whereas at the peak of the action potential the permeability ratio fell 38%. A previous study using the same muscle and stimulation protocol showed force to recover with a fast initial phase (approximately 2 min) and a much slower second phase (approximately 50 min). The recovery of [Na+]i, [K+]i, and Em was similar to the fast phase of force recovery; thus the altered Na+ and K+ concentration gradient across the sarcolemma and t-tubular membrane may contribute to this component of fatigue. The possible fatigue mechanisms induced by the altered ionic gradients include 1) complete block of the action potential propagation; 2) depolarization-induced inactivation of t-tubular charge movement; and 3) a reduced magnitude of the t-tubular charge due to the lower action potential spike potential.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Balog
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fitts
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011894:Rana pipiens; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000502:physiology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium