Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Vyskocil.
A crude extract of the sciatic nerve, eluate of dialyzed nerve extract or 2 folin-positive sephadex fractions induced acetylcholine sensitivity of extrajunctional regions in extensor digitorum longus muscle fibres of the rat, when released from silastic plates implanted for 3--4 days onto the muscle surface.
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1. Acetylcholine (ACh) released from mouse diaphragm was gel filtrated and estimated by bio-assay and compared with electrophysiologically measured quantal release, expressed either as frequency of miniature end-plate potentials or quantum content of end-plate potentials. 2. Activation of Na+-K+-dependent membrane ATPase (membrane ATPase) in Na+-loaded muscles lowered the total amount of ACh released at rest to one tenth of the control value, but quantal release remained unchanged. 3. Inhibition of membrane ATPase by 2 X 10(-5) M-ouabain or by K-free solution led to an increase in total release and to a delayed progressive increase in quantal release. When Ca2+ was removed only the total release was enhanced. 4. Depolarization of the diaphragm by 8, 11 and 14 mM-K increased both total and quantal release only in the presence of Ca2+ in the perfusion medium. When Ca2+ was removed, no significant increase in release was observed. 5. The total and quantal release in response to 2 Hz stimulation of the preparation was increased 1.4 and 45 times, respectively. It is concluded that the total amount of ACh released at rest consists of two fractions, quantal and non-quantal, the former representing about 1% of the total release.
The present experiments show that cortisol when applied in vitro, exerted two different effects on the electrical excitability of the diaphragm muscle fibre membrane and on the neuromuscular transmission depending on the concentration used. At low concentrations (2.5X10(-6) mol.l-1) it potentiated action potentials, increased resting membrane polarization by 3--4 mV and did not affect neuromuscular transmission. Higher concentrations (10(-2) mol.l-1) suppressed the action potential to a certain extent, depolarized the muscle fibre membrane by 6 mV and reduced the amplitudes of m.e.p.p.s and e.p.p.s as well as those of iontophoretically evoked acetylcholine potentials. It was concluded that the effect of low concentrations of cortisol is primary and is probably due to the enhancement of resting membrane permeability for K+ ions and to the changes in ion channels. Cortisol in high doses increased muscle oxygen consumption, so that its suppressing effect might be due to inhibition of energy metabolism.
PGE1 (10(-7) M) in the absence of Ca2+ or at low external Ca2+ concentrations (0.2-0.5 mM) depressed the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.s) in frog sartorius muscle, but m.e.p.p. amplitudes were unchanged. Both an increase in Ca2+ concentration to 2 mM or a blockade of Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria by metabolic inhibitors (5 X 10(-5) M 2,4-dinitrophenol or 2 X 10(-5) M rotenone) prevented the inhibitory action of PGE1 on m.e.p.p. frequency. We suggest that PGE1 may inhibit acetylcholine release from motor nerve terminals by promoting the active uptake of Ca2+ by mitochondria, or by facilitating the efflux of Ca2+ from the axoplasm into the extracellular medium.
Diazepam (10(-5) M) had no effect on the compound action potential of frog sciatic nerve and its refractory period. At the neuromuscular junction, no changes were found in the amplitude and frequency of miniature endplate potentials in the presence of the drug. End-plate potential (e.p.p.) amplitude and early facilitation of the e.p.p. were unchanged. Diazepam had no effect on the amplitude of potentials evoked by ACh applied iontophoretically (0.1 Hz) at low frequencies in the chemosensitive region of the postjunctional membrane. Diazepam (10(-6) M) enhanced the progressive desensitization to ACh applied at a frequency of 1 Hz but did not affect recovery of sensitivity. A possible mechanism of action of diazepam at cholinergic synapses is discussed.
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The subsynaptic area of mouse diaphragm fibres was hyperpolarized by 1--2 mV during local curarization of the junctional zone in the presence of the reversible anticholinesteraze prostigmine (6 X 10(-6) M), or after treatment of the muscle with organophosphate cholinesterase inhibitor Soman. In a solution containing 5 mM K+ the mean hyperpolarization was 1.1 +/- 0.27 mV at mean resting potential--70 mV. After adding 2 X 10(-5) M ouabain the hyperpolarization increased to 1.5 +/- 0.25 mV. Removal of potassium ions from the bathing medium also increased curare induced hyperpolarization to 1.80 +/- 0.40 mV. Reactivation of membrane ATP-ase by addition of K+ after a period in K+-free medium reduced the hyperpolarization to zero, where measurements were performed 10--20 min after the readdition. It was concluded that spontaneous non-quantal leakage of acetylcholine occurs at the mouse neuromuscular junction, as it does in the frog (ref. Katz and Miledi 1977). Conditions which block the Na+-K+-dependent ATP-ase of nerve terminals increased the continuous leakage of ACh and activation of the pump decreased it.
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The postjunctional membrane of mouse diaphragm fibres was hyperpolarized by 1-2 mV during local curarization of the end-plate zone in the presence of anticholinesterase. In a solution containing 5 mM K+, the mean hyperpolarization was 1.0+/-0.35 mV. Hyperpolarization was 1.46+/-0.30 mV when the activity of the Na-K pump was blocked by 2 x 10(-5) M ouabain and 1.82+/-0.43 mV when it was blocked by bathing the muscle in a K+-free medium. Reactivation of membrane ATP-ase by addition of potassium after a period in K+-free medium reduced the hyperpolarization to zero, when measurements were made 10-20 min after the readdition. It is concluded that spontaneous non-quantal leakage of acetylcholine occurs at the mouse neuromuscular junction, as it does in the frog (2). Conditions which block the Na+-k+-dependent ATPase increased the leakage whereas potentiation of the pump activity decreased it.
Diazepam inconcentrations of 10(-6) and 10(-5) M effectively blocks trains of action potentials (AP) in individual rat diaphragm muscle fibres 'in vitro'. Single APs, evoked and recorded intracellularly with double microelectrodes, were not affected by diazepam. Trains of APs, evoked in diaphragm fibers in a SO42-- -medium (Cl-- -free), were not affected by diazepam. Diazepam decreased the dependence of the membrane resting potential of muscle cells in chloride media on elevated external potassium whereas no effect was observed in SO42-- --Cl-- -free saline. Similar to in the rat diaphragm, diazepam blocked the trains of AP of individual muscle fibres in the frog sartorius muscle (Cl-- -medium). Diazepam did not affect the spontaneous fibrillatory APs recorded extracellularly from rat gastrocnemius muscles 10 days after denervation. Diazepam apparently increases the resting permeability of the muscle fibre memebrane for chloride ions. In the presence of the drug, the higher permeability for Cl- diminishes the depolarization caused by the potassium released and accumulated in the vicinity of the membrane in the course of AP. The muscle fibre membrane thus does not respond by repetitive activity when partially depolarized and only one AP can be evoked when diazepam is present. It is suggested that similar changes in Cl-- permeability may occur in brain excitable structures after diazepam administration and may account for some of the therapeutic effects of the drug.
Electrophysiological evidence is presented that at least 30 percent of sartorius muscle fibres of adult frogs are innervated by two or more axons at a single end-plate zone. In these fibres, increasing stimulation of the common sartorius nerve led to the appearance of two or more distinct levels of end-plate potentials (e.p.p.) (or currents, measured by the voltage clamp technique). They had an identical time course, reversal potential and delay to nerve stimulation. When the recording microelectrode was moved along the same fibre and reinserted, both components of e.p.p. decreased proportionally. This indicated that both components of e.p.p. originated very closely to each other on the muscle fibre, presumably in one end-plate zone. Many fibres of the sartorius muscle of adult frogs therefore possess polyneural innervation of a single end-plate zone, which is otherwise typical for early stages of ontogenesis.
Electrical and contractile properties of the levator ani muscle were studied in normal rats, in castrated rats and in castrated rats treated with testosterone. 2. No significant changes in the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials were found 6 months after castration. The frequency increased already 6 h after testosterone treatment; an increase of about 100% was observed after 7 days of testosterone treatment. 3. Castration led to a 2-fold increase of the input resistance of the muscle fibres. After 7 days of testosterone treatment the input resistance was only slightly higher than normal. 4. The weight of the muscle was decreased to 18% of the control value after 6 months castration. It increased to 46% after 7 days of testosterone treatment. 5. The muscles of castrated animals revealed a prolongation of contraction time and marked changes in maximal rate of tension development and half relaxation time. Partial recovery of these parameters was found after 7 days of testosterone treatment. 6. Long-term castration did not induce any denervation-like changes of action potential parameters, and no tetrodotoxin resistance was found in spite of marked muscle atrophy.
1. After a local lesion of the diaphragm muscle, which produced a segment of innervated muscle fibres connected with an intact nerve-free segment by a region of crushed muscle fibres, the sensitivity to ACh, the presence of tetrodotoxin resistant action potentials (AP) and the transmission of AP along the muscle fibres were studied. 2. Three days after local injury of the diaphragm muscle ACh sensitivity and TTX resistance appeared in the crushed and nerve-free segments between the place of injury and the tendineous attachment. 5-7 days after injury transmission of action potentials through the damaged to the undamaged ("decentralized"), nerve-free part of the fibres is restored. High ACh sensitivity and TTX resistance of the latter segment, however, are completely lost only 20 days after the local injury. During this period contractility of the muscle remains practically unchanged. Enzymatic activities (SDH, ATPase and phosphorylase) of the damaged part were lost 3 days after crushing and recovered slowly between 7-10 days of regeneration of the diaphragm muscle fibres. 3. The experiments suggest that during regeneration of damaged muscle fibres supersensitivity to ACh remains high inspite of normal AP activity and that intracellular mechanisms may be involved in the induction and disappearance of ACh hypersensitivity.
Using liquid ion-exchanger semimicroelectrodes with a side pore, we measured changes of extracellular potassium concentration (Ke+) in adult rabbit and cat gastrocnemius muscles and in venous effluent blood flowing from the cat gastrocnemius muscle during various bouts of activity induced by sciatic nerve stimulation. 1. Isometric tetanic contractions (at 50 Hz) of various durations caused transient accumulation of Ke+ which was non-linearly related to the duration of muscle activity. The peak values of Ke+ in response to muscle stimulation were analogous in rabbits and cats, attaining values, e.g. after a 20-sisometric tetanus, between 8-9 mEq/1K+ in both species. 2. Potassium concentration in venous effleunt blood (K+ven) was transiently increased after isometric tetani. Since blood flow was measured at the same time, it was possible to calculate the amount of K+ lost by the muscle after tetani of various durations. A 32 g gastrocnemius muscle of the cat, for example, loses 9.36 +/- 1.52 muEqK+ after a 20-s isometric tetanus, which corresponds roughly to 0.5% of the total muscle potassium content. The loss of K+ in this muscle was 29.3 pEq K+ /impulse/100 g fresh muscle tissue. 3. There was no evident difference between the amount of K+ released during isometric tetani, or tetanic contractions performed under isotonic conditions. Single twitches evoked by indirect stimulation at 1 HZ for several minutes also induced a small rise in K+ven. 4. If the loss of K+ from the muscle into the blood stream is transiently prevented by arterio-venous occlusion installed immediately before a 10-s isometric tetanus, most K+ is released subsequently when blood flow is renewed, if the occlusion lasts for 20-25 s. It is not until blood flow is occuded for 40-60 s that most K+ is apparently resorbed and only a minor portion is released and is to be found in the venous blood. 5. The transient accumulation of muscle extra-cellular potassium may locally affect nerve endings, skeletal and smooth muscle cells.
During hibernation reduction of frequency of the miniature end-plate potential (m.e.p.p.) was observed. This parameter was reduced in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle to 16% and in the soleus muscle to 7% of values found in awake animals. The ACh-sensitive area of the individual muscle fibres in both types of muscle increased about three times during hibernation.