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The effect of caffeine and quinine on calcium uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from crustacean skeletal muscle in relation to the disruption of excitation-contraction coupling

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Summary

Calcium uptake of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) isolated fromCarcinus skeletal muscle was examined under control conditions and in the presence of 5 mM quinine and 10 mM caffeine. Quinine was without significant effect on SR intrinsic calcium but caffeine caused a release of about 17% of this calcium compartment. Both alkaloids depressed ATP-promoted calcium binding by the SR, caffeine inducing a greater depression of binding. In addition, both alkaloids were able to release calcium from previously loaded SR.

It is concluded that caffeine-induced release of intrinsic calcium may contribute to the rise in myoplasmic calcium associated with caffeine contracture, but caffeine action on SR labile calcium is the major basis for contracture-induction. In the case of quinine, electron microscopic evidence suggests that this drug acts on the mitochondrial calcium compartment of the muscle fibre as well as on the SR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, LA14YQ, Lancaster, England

    H. Huddart & A. J. Williams

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  1. H. Huddart
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  2. A. J. Williams
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Huddart, H., Williams, A.J. The effect of caffeine and quinine on calcium uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from crustacean skeletal muscle in relation to the disruption of excitation-contraction coupling. J Comp Physiol B 94, 331–338 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00710645

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00710645

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