The effect of verapamil and Ca free solution on mechanical and electrical properties in fast twitch mammalian skeletal muscle.

The effects of verapamil (0.01-0.1 mM) and Ca-free solutions (0 Ca, 3 mM MgCl2, 5 mM EGTA) upon mechanical and electrical properties of a fast twitch mammalian skeletal muscle (extensor digitorum longus) have been studied. Ca-free saline reduces twitch and tetanus tension. The response to single pulses was not affected in the presence of verapamil, but as the rate of stimulation increased, peak tensions were lower and a gradual decrease of tension was observed: frequency-dependent effect. Caffeine (30 mM) contracture was significantly reduced by both solutions. The fibers in Ca-free saline were depolarized (6 mV) and +dV/dt, -dV/dt and overshoot of the AP's were reduced. On the other hand, verapamil did not affect Vm. The presence of 0.1 mM verapamil hindered the ability of the fibers to generate AP's at high rates of stimulation. Lower concentration of verapamil (0.01) did not affect the repetitive electrical activity, but tetanic tension was decreased. These findings support partially the hypothesis about the dependence of mammalian skeletal muscle from external Ca. Verapamil would have several mechanisms of action: a) Ca-channel blocker action, b) local anaesthetic effect, and c) reduction of Ca release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.