The use of the indicator fluo-5N to measure sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium in single muscle fibres of the cane toad.

1. Single fibres from the lumbrical muscles of the cane toad (Bufo marinus) were incubated in fluo-5N AM for 2 h at 35 degrees C in order to load the indicator into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Fluo-5N is a low-affinity calcium indicator (K(Ca) 90 microM). Successful sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) loading was indicated by a fluorescence signal that declined during contraction. 2. Confocal microscopy showed that the dye loaded principally in lines perpendicular to the long axis of the fibre that repeated each sarcomere. This is consistent with much of the dye residing in the SR. 3. To establish the site of loading, fibres were exposed to 30 mM caffeine in the presence of 20 microM 2,5-di(tert-butyl)1,4-hydroquinone (TBQ, an SR pump inhibitor) which should release most Ca(2+) from the SR; this procedure reduced the fluorescence to 46 +/- 4 % of the control value. To determine how much indicator was in the myoplasm, fibres were exposed to 100 microg ml(-1) saponin which permeabilizes the surface membrane; saponin treatment reduced the fluorescence to 51 +/- 2 % of the control value. 4. During maximally activated tetani (100 Hz stimulation rate, 22 degrees C) the component of signal from the SR declined by 33 +/- 4 %. During relaxation the SR signal recovered in two phases with time constants of 0.38 +/- 0.14 s and 10.1 +/- 1.7 s. Partially activated tetani (30 Hz stimulation rate) showed a smaller SR signal. Application of the SR Ca(2+) pump inhibitor TBQ slowed the rate of recovery of the SR signal. 5. Muscle fatigue was produced by repeated short tetani until tension was reduced to 50 %. The SR signal during the periods between tetani declined steadily and the SR Ca(2+) signal was eventually reduced to 71 +/- 8 % of the control signal. This signal recovered in two phases when the muscle was rested. An initial phase had a time constant of 1.7 +/- 0.2 s so that by 20 s of recovery the SR Ca(2+) signal was 86 +/- 7 % of control; the second phase was slower and by 5 min the SR Ca(2+) signal was back to control values (98 +/- 5 % control). In addition the magnitude of the SR signal decline associated with each tetanus (DeltaCa(2+)) declined monotonically throughout fatigue and returned to control after 5 min recovery. 6. This approach can monitor the SR Ca(2+) concentration in normally functioning muscle fibres with good time resolution. The method confirms other approaches that show that the free Ca(2+) available for release in the SR declines during fatigue. This reduction in Ca(2+) will contribute to the failure of Ca(2+) delivery to the myofilaments which is an important cause of muscle fatigue.