title: Contractile apparatus and sarcoplasmic reticulum function: effects of fatigue, recovery, and elevated Ca2+.
abstract: This investigation tested the notion that fatiguing stimulation induces intrinsic changes in the contractile apparatus and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and that these changes are initiated by elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Immediately after stimulation of frog semitendinosus muscle, contractile apparatus and SR function were measured. Despite a large decline in tetanic force (Po), maximal Ca2+-activated force (Fmax) of the contractile apparatus was not significantly altered. However, Ca2+ sensitivity was increased. In conjunction, the rate constant of Ca2+ uptake by the SR was diminished, and the caffeine sensitivity of Ca2+ release was decreased. During recovery, Po, contractile apparatus, and SR function each returned to near-initial levels. Exposure of skinned fibers to 0.5 microM free Ca2+ for 5 min depressed both Fmax and Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. In addition, caffeine sensitivity of Ca2+ release was diminished. Results suggest that fatigue induces intrinsic alterations in contractile apparatus and SR function. Changes in contractile apparatus function do not appear to be mediated by increased [Ca2+]i. However, a portion of the change in SR Ca2+ release seems to be due to elevated [Ca2+]i.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0430, USA. JHWMS@VT.EDU
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004056:Differential Threshold; D006614:Hindlimb; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011894:Rana pipiens; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium