Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Functional and ionic changes accompanying magnesium penetration in skeletal muscle

  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The penetration of magnesium from high-Mg Ringer's solution into skeletal muscle, and accompanying effects on intrafibre electrolyte composition, muscle contractility and Ca-exchange have been studied in isolated preparations of whole sartorius ofRana temporaria. Muscle magnesium, corrected for extracellular space, rose rapidly and then more slowly, and at 60 min in 20 mM Mg-Ringer it was calculated that intrafibre unbound Mg was increased by at least two-fold over the level in companion muscles in normal Ringer. Contractile response to direct, supramaximal stimulation was reduced in Mg-loaded muscles while resting membrane potential (E m) remained unaffected. Contracture in response to high-K was diminished while caffeine contracture was not changed. Muscles loaded with Mg also showed significant loss of fibre K and gained Na. Mg-loading caused a significant decrease in exchangeability of muscle Ca. Three fractions of exchangeable Ca in muscle were detected, characterised by half-times of circa 1.5, 7 and 50 min, respectively. In muscles soaked in high-Mg Ringer the half-times for these fractions were not different to the controls, but the quantities exchanged in the two slower fractions were reduced.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ashkenaz, E. W.: Magnesium narcosis in muscle. J. cell. comp. Physiol.11, 163–174 (1938)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Aubert, X.: Les ions alcalino-terreux et la muscle strié. In: Z. Bacq, (Ed.), Handbuch der Experimentellen Pharmakologie, Band XVII/1, S. 337–397, Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1964

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bianchi, C. P., Shanes, A. M.: Calcium influx in skeletal muscle at rest, during activity and during potassium contracture. J. gen. Physiol.42, 803–815 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brading, A. F., Jones, A. W.: Distribution and kinetics of CoEDTA in smooth muscle, and its use as an extracellular marker. J. Physiol. (Lond.)200, 387–401 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Conway, E. J., Cruess-Callaghan, G.: Magnesium and chloride “permeations” in muscles. Biochem. J.31, 828–836 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Del Castillo, J., Engbaek, L.: Nature of the neuromuscular block produced by magnesium. J. Physiol. (Lond.)124, 370–384 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Feinstein, M. B.: Inhibition of caffeine rigor and radiocalcium movements by local anesthetics in frog sartorius muscle. J. gen. Physiol.47, 151–172 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ford, L. E., Podolsky, R. J.: Intracellular calcium movements in skinned muscle fibres. J. Physiol. (Lond.)223 21–33 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Frank, G. B.: Effects of changes in extracellular calcium concentration on the potassium-induced contracture in frog's skeletal muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.)151, 518–538 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gilbert, D. L.: Magnesium equilibrium in muscle. J. gen. Physiol.43, 1103–1118 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gilbert, D. L., Fenn, W. O.: Calcium equilibrium in muscle. J. gen. Physiol.40, 393–408 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Isaacson, A., Sandow, A.: Quinine and caffeine effects on45Ca movements in frog sartorius muscle. J. gen. Physiol.50, 2109–2128 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kovács, T., O'Donnell, J. M.: Magnesium-inhibition of contractility and calcium exchange in frog sartorius muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.)236, 23–24 P (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  14. McIntyre, A. R., Young, P., Ware, F.: Effects of magnesium excess and calcium lack on frog muscle R. P. in vitro. Fed. Proc.15, 458 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nanninga, L. B.: Calculation of the magnesium, calcium and potassium in muscle. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)54, 338–344 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  16. O'Donnell, J. M.: Fluxes of magnesium and calcium during induced activity of frog sartorius muscle. Experientia (Basel)29, 292–293 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sandow, A.: Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. Pharmacol. Rev.17, 265–320 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Scheid, P., Straub, R. W.: Die Permeabilität von Froschmuskelfasern für Magnesium-Ionen. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol.301, 124–143 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Stefani, E., Chiriandiai, D. J.: Skeletal muscle: Dependence of potassium contractures on extracellular calcium. Pflügers Arch.343, 143–150 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Weiss, G. B.: On the site of action of lanthanum in frog sartorius muscle. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther.174, 517–526 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. T. Kovács (Wellcome European Fellow)

    Present address: Institute of Physiology, University Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Council, Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge, England

    J. M. O'Donnell & T. Kovács (Wellcome European Fellow)

Authors
  1. J. M. O'Donnell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Kovács
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

O'Donnell, J.M., Kovács, T. Functional and ionic changes accompanying magnesium penetration in skeletal muscle. Pflugers Arch. 350, 321–334 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592640

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592640

Key words

Search

Navigation