Resting membrane potential of rat plantaris muscle fibers after prolonged indirect stimulation in situ: effect of glucose infusion.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether glucose infusion during prolonged indirect muscle stimulation (50 Hz for 200 ms every 2.7 s at 5 V) would have an effect on resting membrane potential (RMP). The RMP measured at Min 1 in the recovery period following stimulation of the rat plantaris muscle for 60 min in situ was significantly decreased in control rats, but was back to baseline values within 2 min. When glucose was infused ([glucose] approximately 10 mM), no change was observed in RMP, and muscle fatigue and the reduction in M-wave peak-to-peak amplitude were both attenuated. However, muscle force and the electrical properties of the membrane were deteriorated both in rats infused with glucose and in control rats at Min 2 during the recovery period, at a time when RMP was not modified. These observations suggest that the effect of increased circulating glucose on fatigue-associated reductions in muscle fiber RMP seems to be modest and short-lived. Therefore, the attenuating effect of elevated glucose on muscle fatigue responses could be through mechanisms other than those associated with maintenance of RMP during fatigue.