title: Adrenaline diminishes K+ contractures and Ba2+-current in chicken slow skeletal muscle fibres.
abstract: The effects of adrenaline and the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline on K+-evoked tension (K+-contracture) and Ba2+ current were investigated in chicken slow (anterior latissimus dorsi (ald)) muscle using isometric-tension measurements and current recording. Addition of adrenaline (10(-7) - 10(-5) M) or isoprenaline (10(-6) - 10(-5) M) to the bath reduced the amplitude of the K+-contractures. These effects were blocked by the beta-antagonist propranolol (5 x 10(-6) M). External application of a cAMP analogue (8-bromo cyclic AMP; 1 x 10(-4) M) also decreased the amplitude of the K+-contractures. To analyze the possible relationship between the induced tension reduction and effects on sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels, a slow action potential and a slow inward membrane current were studied in intact ald chicken muscle fibres. When the ald muscle was immersed in a Na+- and Cl--free solution containing Ba2+ and depolarizing pulses were delivered from a -80 mV holding potential, the muscle fibres exhibited a small, slow Ba2+-dependent potential (observed at about -26 mV, peak amplitude, around -10 mV). The response was blocked by the addition of Co2+ (5 mM) or Cd2+ (2 mM). Using the three-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique, a slow inward membrane current underlying the Ba2+ potential could be discerned. The current had a mean threshold of -60 mV, reached maximum at about -5 mV and ranged from ca. 9 to 19 pA/cm2 (depending on the external Ba2+ concentration). It had a mean reversal potential of +45 mV. The Ba2+ inward current was diminished when adrenaline or isoprenaline was added to the bath (1 x 10(-5) M); however, this decrease did not occur when propranolol was present (5 x 10-6 M). These results suggest that the decreases in the tension of K+-contractures induced by adrenaline and isoprenaline may occur through beta-adrenergic effects on sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels in ald chicken slow muscle fibres.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Mexico. rosio@cgic.ucol.mx
authors.forename: Xóchitl
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huerta
authors.forename: Clemente
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.forename: Felipa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens; D003035:Cobalt / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D001464:Barium; D003035:Cobalt; D011188:Potassium; D004837:Epinephrine