title: Measurement of force and both surface and deep M wave properties in isolated rat soleus muscles.
abstract: In isolated soleus muscles of 4-wk-old rats, M wave parameters were recorded with surface and deep recording electrodes and examined in relation to both twitch and tetanic force. Addition of ouabain (10(-5) M for 16 min) to isolated muscles caused an approximately 40% decrease in twitch amplitude and area (P < 0.01) that was associated with a 98% decrease in surface M wave amplitude, a 78% decrease in deep M wave amplitude (both P < 0.001), a 98% decrease in surface M wave area (P < 0.01), 48% of which occurred within 60 s of addition of ouabain (P < 0.05), and a 55% decrease in deep M wave area (P < 0.05). The decrease in twitch parameters on addition of ouabain was most closely correlated with deep M wave area (r = 0.92). Direct tetanic stimulation at a frequency of 30 Hz resulted in an initial potentiation of M waves, which was not seen at a frequency of 90 Hz. Instead, 90 Hz stimulation resulted in a prompt decrease in tetanic force that was correlated with a decrease in both deep M wave amplitude (r = 0.94; P < 0.01) and deep M wave area (r = 0.96; P < 0.01). It is concluded that simultaneous surface and deep recordings involving area and amplitude are fundamental to analysis of the effects of pharmacological agents on muscle performance and the use of M waves as predictors of muscle excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. adh@kvl.dk
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flatman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain