Effect of inhibitors of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism on the membrane potential oscillation induced by veratrine.

1. Veratrine-induced membrane potential oscillation is still apparent after the muscle has been treated with 1 mM KCN, or 1 mM NaN3, or 0.2 mM DNP, to inhibit oxidative metabolism. 2. The frequency of the membrane potential oscillation decreases reversibly in response to 1 mM phlorrhizin either in Na- or Li-Ringer solution. 3. Veratrine causes no membrane potential oscillation but only depolarization in muscles pretreated with 0.5 mM iodoacetic acid, eventually a few abortive waves can be observed. Iodoacetic acid also abolishes oscillation which has already developed. 4. On the basis of the present data it is suggested that rhythmic changes of metabolism may be related to the oscillation of membrane potential.