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Modification of the After-Potential of Single Muscle Fibres by 2:4-Dinitrophenol

Abstract

INTRACELLULAR recording of electrical activity in the excised sartorius muscle of Hyla coerulea shows a negative after-potential of 20–25 mV. with a half-time of decay (t ½) of 8–12 m.sec. at 25° C. The time of recovery to resting potential level is increased to t 1/2 of 18–25 m.sec. when K+ is absent from the glucose–phosphate–Ringer medium. Successive Increases of K+ concentration up to 15 N/1,000 cause successive shortenings of repolarization time to t ½ 6 m.sec.1. These processes are faster by one-third in Rana catesbiana. The after-potential of Hyla muscle is prolonged, also, by reduction of Na+ in the medium to 20 M (t 1/2 15–20 m.sec.) or by increase of H+ to pH. 6.5, which gives t ½ of 28 m.sec.

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MACFARLANE, W., MEARES, J. Modification of the After-Potential of Single Muscle Fibres by 2:4-Dinitrophenol. Nature 176, 403–404 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1038/176403a0

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