Denervated muscle: rate of propagation and effects of manganese ions and glycerol on the fibrillatory activity of frog semitendinosus.

Denervated frog's semitendinosus muscles were studied. Fibrillation potentials generate propagated spikes which are conducted at a rate similar to that calculated for innervated muscles. The twitch tension per unit area was similar in denervated and innervated single fibres; the average value corresponded with values reported in the literature for fibres stimulated at 125/sec. Manganese ions (1-3 mM), selectively inhibit fibrillation potentials and have no appreciable effect upon evoked spikes. Mn2+ also inhibits (40-50%) the twitch responses and abolishes the resting tension of muscle fibres. The latter effects were observed in denervated as well as in innervated preparations when the fibres studied belonged to fasicles located at the site of entrance of the nerve. Disruption of the transverse tubular system by glycerol treatment does not interfere with the generation of fibrillation potentials, although the effects on twitching are similar to those reported in the literature. A possible mechanism is proposed to explain the generation of fibrillation potentials in frog denervated muscles.