Activity-dependent differences between rat fast and slow neuromuscular systems.

Activity-dependent pharmacologic differences between the fast tibialis anterior and slow soleus neuromuscular systems of the rat were studied. The tibialis anterior was more sensitive than the soleus to d-tubocurarine tetanic fade (50 Hz), as determined from recordings of compound muscle action potentials. Pre-treatment with physostigmine prevented curare-induced tetanic fade in the tibialis anterior, but not the soleus. Additionally, when contractile tension was 80% blocked by d-tubocurarine, the tibialis anterior was more responsive than the soleus to the decurarizing action of tetanic stimulation (25, 50 and 100 Hz). These results disclose that activity-dependent pharmacologic differences exist between neuromuscular systems. Further, they indicate that the tibialis anterior and the soleus differ in their processes of transmitter release. It is speculated that differences in nerve terminal Ca2+ account for the observed pharmacologic differences between the tibialis anterior and soleus.