The effect of anesthetics on calcium release

Abstract

INTRODUCTIOXQualitat ive evidence indicates that fat solvent ariestlietics such as ether and chloroform cause a release of calcium in the cells of the aquatic plmant, Elodea (JIazia and Clark, '36), and in the protozoan, Aw2ocbu p r o t c m (Daugherty, '37). This study presents some quantitative evidence of calcium release in cells of higher animals under the influence of hot11 fat solvent and non-fat solvent anesthetics (cocaine). MATER.IALS AND METHODS1. Awsthetbc solutions. The anesthetic solutions used were 2% ether, 0.4% chloroform and 27. cocaine in unbuffered frog Ringer. According to Winterstein ('26, pp. 13 and 294), tliese are anesthetic concentrations for frogs.2. Mirsclr fibrr preparations. The combined right and left gastrocnemei of 4 frogs (Rniza pipi~ws) were used for each experiment. The whole muscles were removed from each leg and placed in 1 ml of frog Ringer solution on a black glazed plate. The muscle fibers were teased away from the connective tissue with fine steel needles. The fibers from the 4 ])airs of niiisclcs were thoroughly mixed, lightly blotted with calcium-A dissertation presented to tlie faculty of the Drpnrtment of Zoology of the University of Peiins?lvnnia in p r t i a l fulfillment of tlie requirements for the degree of Doctor of Pliilosopliy.Junior fellow of tlie National Institntr of Health, 1947-48.delphia 4, P a . 95

The Interaction of Some Stimulant and Depressant Drugs on the Frog Heart

“…As hearts depressed by calcium lack lose calcium from a superficial site in the heart where calcium is required for the onward propagation of the excitatory process (Niedergerke, 1957), it may be inferred that the depressed condition of narcotized hearts is due to a similar depression in the propagation of the excitatory process (as opposed to the contractile process) and that this depression can be reversed by calcium. The observation of Berwick (1951), that concentrations of ether similar to those employed in the present experiments caused calcium loss from the frog gastrocnemius muscle, is consistent with this hypothesis. Moreover the depressant effect of pentobarbitone on cardiac contractility has been attributed to decreased mobilization of calcium at the surface membrane of the heart (Daniel, Johnson & Foulkes, 1962).…”

Calcium Equilibrium in Muscle

“…It should be added that due to the large variability in the data, the various calculations should be taken only as rough approximations. Variation in muscle calcium contents has been previously reported (27). Perhaps experiments in which the loss of radioactive calcium from Ca45-eqnilibrated muscles is measured, may give better results, since only one muscle would be needed to obtain a complete curve.…”

Muscle: A Three Phase System

“…Similarly with M g ++ one finds reports varying from complete permeation (8) to almost complete exclusion from the muscle cell (3,13). It has generally been conceded that Ca ++ and Mg ++ are bound in the muscle (2,8,9) although Gilbert and Fenn (15) have invoked a transport mechanism to carry the ions out of the cell. Ussing (30), and Keynes and Lewis (21) have also suggested a transport mechanism for the nerve cell.…”