Studies in electrical stimulation: Effect of neuromuscular blocking agents in lamb

Abstract

A study has been made of the effects of the neuromuscular blocking agents curare, gallamine or suxamethonium on the glycolytic responses of lamb muscles electrically stimulated, either directly or via their nerve sl-lpply. Neuromuscular blockers completely abolished all mechanical and glycolytic responses to indirect stimulation but had no effect on responses elicited by direct stimulation. A functioning nervous system is therefore not essential for the full effects of stimulation to be realised. This conclusion applies to whole carcasses and isolated lamb legs. The death struggle of normal control lambs can cause, in some cases, a degree of internal stimulation resulting in a low initial pH and an increased rate of pH fall, which may be sufficient to mask the effects of electrical stimulation.