title: The modulation of skeletal muscle contraction by FMRFamide-related peptides of the locust.
abstract: The external ventral protractor muscle of the VIIth abdominal segment, M234, is a skeletal muscle that possesses receptors that recognize a range of FMRFamide-related peptides and application of these peptides results in an increase in the amplitude of neurally evoked contractions with little or no effect on basal tonus. FLRFamide itself has the same biologic activity as the extended peptides, whereas truncation to LRFamide or RFamide results in a peptide with no biologic activity. The receptors recognizing these extended FLRFamides, which include SchistoFLRFamide, seem to be different from the SchistoFLRFamide receptors found on locust oviduct visceral muscle. SchistoFLRFamide and the non-peptide mimetic, benzethonium chloride (Bztc), increase the frequency and amplitude of miniature endplate potentials, increase the amplitude of neurally evoked excitatory junction potentials, and result in a hyperpolarisation of resting membrane potential. Bztc, however, also abolishes the active membrane response that may explain its ability to decrease neurally evoked contractions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Erindale College, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001558:Benzethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019835:FMRFamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; C059573:SchistoFLRFamide; D001558:Benzethonium; C058047:arginylphenylalaninamide; D019835:FMRFamide