Twitch potentiation induced by caffeine in the mouse diaphragm depends on external calcium ions in the absence of potassium ions.
1. Removal of external K+ ions increases the amplitude of directly elicited twitch contractions of the mouse diaphragm (Nishimura et al., 1996). This increase depends on external Ca2+ ions. 2. We examined the effect of caffeine (2 mM) on this increase in twitch amplitude. The mouse diaphragm muscle was directly stimulated in the presence of d-tubocurarine (10 microM). 3. Caffeine increased the amplitude of twitches in a standard bathing solution. This effect was maintained in a solution without either K+ or Ca2+ ions but was abolished in a solution from which both ions were absent. Readdition of Ca2+ ions restored the potentiating effect of caffeine. 4. In the presence of caffeine, removal of both K+ and Ca2+ ions decreased the resting membrane potentials of muscle fibers to about -53 mV. The readdition of 2 mM Ca2+ ions restored the membrane potentials. 5. Twitch potentiation in the absence of external K+ ions was attenuated by 10 microM bepridil but not by 3 microM verapamil or 10 microM Cd2+ ions. 6. These results support the hypothesis that Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange can support twitch contraction during the inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. The influx of Ca2+ ions into the cells might be stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Nishimura
M
M
Department of Pharmacology, University of Obihiro School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan.
Matsushita
M
M
Taquahashi
Y
Y
Shimizu
Y
Y
Satoh
E
E
Hasegawa
T
T
D000818:Animals; D015764:Bepridil / Q000494:pharmacology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002110:Caffeine; D015764:Bepridil; D014700:Verapamil; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium