ATP (1-1.2 mM) was photoreleased from caged ATP (5 mM) in skinned fibres from rat psoas muscle at 15-17 degrees C, to examine the effects of ethylene glycol (EG; 20% in solvent) on the kinetics of isometric contraction. Muscle fibres were stretched by 0.5-2% before photolysis, so that force just before photolysis was almost equal to the steady-state force after photolysis. At the phase of steady-state contraction, force and 500 Hz-stiffness in the presence of EG were 50% and 70% of the controls, respectively, resulting in a higher stiffness-to-force with EG, as reported previously. Following photolysis, force fell before rising to a steady-state plateau. The estimated rate constant of the force decay was approximately 90 s-1, and in the presence of EG was 80-85% of the control. This suggested a small effect of EG on the crossbridge detachment induced by ATP. The rate of force redevelopment was approximately 70 s-1, and EG decreased this rate to 50% of the control. This suggested that EG greatly slows the transition of the crossbridges from the detached state to the reattached force-producing state. The time course of the stiffness signals was consistent with this interpretation. The high stiffness-to-force ratio with EG indicated that EG not only reduces the rate constants which were directly examined in this study but also modifies other aspects of the crossbridge reaction.

SUMMARY1. The recovery time course of changes in phosphate metabolites and pH, after tetanic contractions of 6 and 9 s were studied using 31P NMR with 4 and 16 s resolution, in rat soleus muscles at 20 'C. Muscles were at a sarcomere length of 3 15 ,um (active), being greater than optimum for force which was 2-88 ,um (active).2. The post-contraction recovery of chemical changes was compared with the heat production in parallel experiments. Initial and recovery heat production were measured in tetanically stimulated muscles.3. During recovery from tetanic contractions the changes in phosphocreatine (PCr) matched the changes in inorganic phosphate (Pi). The change in intracellular pH (pHi) was biphasic. The pHi first became more alkaline after contraction and then decreased until it reached a point below the baseline value. There was then a final recovery. 4. The initial heat and recovery heat production were greater than that expected from the PCr hydrolysis estimated during the tetanus and the PCr resynthesis that follows.5. These data support the presence of 'unexplained heat' during a contraction and its related recovery processes in rat soleus muscle.

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