Effects of phalloidin on electrical and mechanical activity of frog muscle fibres.

The effects of phalloidin (10(-15) to 10(-5) M) on isolated muscle fibres of the frog were investigated under current or voltage clamp conditions in a double mannitol gap device coupled to a mechanoelectric transducer which allowed the estimation of isometric tension. The toxin significantly increased the action potential duration and the amplitude of the associated contraction. Under voltage-clamp conditions, for a concentration range of 10(-14) to 10(-8) M, phalloidin reversibly decreased (up to 42.7% +/- 3.1) the fast outward potassium current responsible for the delayed rectification. For concentrations from 10(-8) to 10(-5) M, the toxin irreversibly reduced (up to 43.3% +/- 2.9) the amplitude of the contractile response. It is concluded that, in skeletal muscle fibre of frog, phalloidin acts at two different levels, one which may be located at the outer face of the surface membrane while the other may be located deeper within the cell.