[Influence of homologous n-alcanoic acids on the function properties of isolated skeletal muscles. III. Contractures by fatty acids and relations to the effects of caffeine].

The influences of octanoic, decanoic, and hexadencanoic acid were tested on the contracture capability of isolated skeletal muscle of frogs and rats. 1. 100 mM octanoic or 10mM decanoic acid induce contractures in skeletal mucles after 20-30 min of exposure. 2. The time of exposure necessary for induction of contractures is shortened by an increase of bath temperature, electrical stimulation or KCl-depolarization of muscles. 3. Simultaneous addition of fatty acid and caffeine (10 mM) effects a depression and a delay of the caffeine contracture. The contractures evoked by 5 mM caffeine are inhibited by lower concentrations of fatty acids (1 mM octaonoic acid, 0,1 mM hexadecanoic acid). 4. After the complete development of a caffeine (or fatty acid) contracture the muscle is not able to develop an identical contracture by a second application of the same drug, even after intermediate treatment during one or two hours in Ringer solution. If the contracture is interrupted one minute after the caffeine application by changing the solution, the tension returns quickly to the resting level. A subsequent addition of caffeine (10 mM) after about 10 minutes effects an identical contracture. Thus the effect of fatty acids on caffeine contracture may be studied on the same muscle which served as its own control. 5. As mechanisms involved in the development of fatty acid contractures and in the inhibition of caffeine contractures, interactions of free fatty acids and lipids of biological membranes are disucssed. Especially, there may be changes of the calcium affinity of cellular membranes.