The Action of N-Ethylmaleimide on the Membrane Currents and Contractile Tension in the Bullfrog Atrium

Abstract

The effects of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a sulfhydryl blocking reagent, on the membrane currents, action potentials and contractile tension in bullfrog atrial muscle were studied by using the double sucrose gap technique. In concentrations of 10-3 to 10-4 M, NEM led to a transient enhancement of twitch contraction followed by a late inhibition, while 10-2 M NEM merely produced an inhibitory effect. The positive inotropism was accompanied by a prolongation of action potential and the negative inotropism, by a depression of action potential. Under voltage clamp conditions, 10-3 M NEM reduced the fast inward current and increased the steady state outward and background currents. The slow inward current and the inward Ca current in Na-free conditions were transiently increased by 10-3 M NEM with an enhancement of contractile tension. In voltage-tension relationships, NEM-induced augmentation of tension appeared in depolarizing pulses of 60-70 mV. The results indicate that NEM increases transiently the Ca conductance of the cell membrane. Preincubation with L-cysteine blocked the production of positive inotropic effect by NEM, suggesting that the effects of NEM are due to the blockade of protein sulfhydryl group in the atrial muscle.

The Time-dependent and Dose-dependent Effects of the Sulfhydryl Blocker N-Ethylmaleimide on the Tonic Tension in Bullfrog Atrium

“…Preparation and the experimental conditions were the same as reported previously (AoMINE and ABE, 1978a Burk plots of the data also supported the above view (Fig. 2B).…”