Abstract
Cd2+-induced contractures began with a delay of ≅4 min after adding 3 mM Cd2+ to external solutions that contained Cl– as the major anion. Tension increased to ≅20% of peak tetanic tension after 30 min and was maintained after Cd2+ washout. Tension developed more rapidly at higher [Cd2+] (up to 10 mM). There was a lack of correlation between the delay before the contracture and contracture tension: (1) tension was reduced by 2 mM Co2+ or 50 µM nifedipine, although the delay remained at ≅4 min, and (2) the delay fell to seconds when Cd2+ was added in SO4 2– solutions, although tension was the same as in Cl– solutions. Since SO4 2– solutions swell T-tubules, Cd2+ may enter the T-system before inducing contractures. Cd2+-induced contractures depended on external [Ca2+] since they were reduced when Ca2+ was omitted from solutions. The contractures did not depend on activation of excitation–contraction coupling, since tension was not altered when the voltage sensor was inactivated by depolarization in 40 mM K+. A small contracture developed with 3 mM Zn2+, but not 3 mM Co2+ or La3+. Both Cd2+ and Zn2+ activated the contractile proteins in skinned fibres. Cd2+-induced contractures may depend on external Cd2+ releasing Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), or on Cd2+ entering the fibre, releasing Ca2+ from the SR and/or directly activating the contractile proteins.
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Received after revision: 2 September 1999
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Mould, J., Dulhunty, A. Delayed contractures induced by external cadmium ions in rat soleus muscle fibres. Pflügers Arch – Eur J Physiol 439, 263–270 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004249900165
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004249900165