[Effects of the number of carbon atoms of alcohols on the Ca(2+)-related functions of skinned skeletal muscle fibers from the guinea pigs].

The effect of the number of carbon atoms of alcohols (1 mM) on intramuscular Ca(2+)-related functions was studied using the skinned fiber technique in guinea pig skeletal muscles. The rate of calcium induced calcium release (CICR) increased steadily with increasing number of carbon atoms until 6 and then fell. Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was not affected with the number of carbon atoms of alcohols. Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile system was affected with the number of carbon atoms of alcohols. The pCa-tension curves were shifted to the left at low concentrations of Ca2+, and decreased at high concentrations of Ca2+ (beyond carbon atoms 6). Alcohols enhanced CICR from the SR significantly, but the cut-off in potency was observed in higher numbers of carbon atoms as observed with volatile anesthetics. These results suggested that it is possible to use alcohols instead of halothane in caffeine-halothane-contracture test (CHCT).