Effect of ammonia on in vitro diaphragmatic contractility, fatigue and recovery.
BACKGROUND
Following strenuous exercise, in vivo diaphragmatic strength has been reported to decrease. This decrease has been suggested to result from an increase in metabolic by-products of intense exercise.


OBJECTIVE
We tested the hypothesis that physiological NH(3) concentrations adversely affect diaphragmatic contractility, fatigability, and recovery.


METHODS
Rat diaphragm strips were exposed to one of six experimental conditions (n = 6 per condition): Krebs-Ringer control solution, or the control solution with NH(3) added (in mM): 0.11, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, or 14.0. Initial diaphragmatic contractility was assessed with the force-frequency response in the control solution. Following the first force-frequency response, the solution was replaced with one of the six solutions and a second force-frequency response was measured. Strips were then subjected to a short fatigue protocol and contractility was reassessed with a third force-frequency response. A longer fatigue protocol was then administered, followed by a 20-min recovery assessment period.


RESULTS
Ammonia significantly (p < 0.05) reduced diaphragmatic contractility, but only at concentrations of 5 mM or greater. Additionally, ammonia did not alter the rate of fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that physiological NH(3) concentrations do not adversely affect in vitro diaphragmatic contractility, fatigue, or recovery. These data are not consistent with diaphragmatic fatigue associated with exercise induced by arterial concentrations of NH(3) seen in humans, although further testing in situ or in vivo is needed.
Shanely
R Andrew
RA
Department of Exercise Science, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz., USA. shanely@ufl.edu
Coast
J Richard
JR
D000641:Ammonia / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000641:Ammonia