[Metabolic influences on the onset of fibrillation and on membrane potentials of denervated muscles].

Fibrillation activity and membrane depolarization which follow denervation, were studied in skeletal muscles of control and pretreated adult rats. The investigation was carried out on both fast (Tibialis Anterior) and slow (Soleus) muscles. The pretreatment consisted in prolonged (4 days) starvation, or Streptozotocin-induced diabetes, preceding denervation. Denervation was performed by cutting the sciatic nerve. In fast as well as in slow muscle, both pretreatment significantly delayed the onset of fibrillation. Starvation enhanced depolarization only in fast muscle, while diabetes was effective also in slow muscle. The results support the view that membrane depolarization (but not fibrillation activity) in denervated muscle is related to an altered carbohydrate metabolism.