Caffeine and the myoplasmic calcium removal mechanisms in cut frog skeletal muscle fibres

Gen Physiol Biophys. 1990 Jun;9(3):251-66.

Abstract

Antipyrylazo III myoplasmic calcium transients were recorded in cut skeletal muscle fibres of the frog (Rana esculenta), using the double vaseline-gap voltage-clamp system. Intracellular calcium removal mechanisms were analysed, using a slightly modified model taken from the literature. Parameter values reported here are generally consistent with those obtained by the original model. Caffeine (0.5 mmol.l-1) moderately enhanced the overall myoplasmic calcium removal. In particular, the rate constant of the non-saturable uptake increased by 51% on the average, but there was a considerable fiber-to-fiber variation. The kinetic features of the binding sites representing the saturable uptake did not change significantly while the concentration of the available sites decreased by 36%. It is concluded that the caffeine-induced changes of the calcium removal components can be explained by supposing an increased resting myoplasmatic Ca2+ concentration in the presence of the drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caffeine / pharmacology*
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Models, Biological
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects*
  • Muscles / drug effects*
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Rana esculenta

Substances

  • Caffeine
  • Calcium