Energy balance in frog sartorius muscle during an isometric tetanus at 20° C

Abstract

1. Changes in the concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, creatine and phosphorylcreatine (PC) have been measured in frog sartorius muscles after different periods of isometric stimulation at 20° C. The heat production was measured in parallel experiments with a thermopile of the Hill‐Downing type.2. Muscles were either in O₂ and unpoisoned or in N₂ and poisoned with iodoacetic acid to prevent aerobic and glycolytic recovery processes.3. Poisoning did not appear to alter the heat production of these muscles and had little effect on the tension for up to 8 sec tetanus.4. The break‐down of high‐energy phosphates (∼ P) during contraction was faster in the poisoned muscles. Normal muscles were thus able to resynthesize high energy phosphates during the contraction. The resynthesis began at its maximum rate; part of it was probably due to glycolytic activity.5. During the first 2 sec of contraction (poisoned muscles), the only net reaction was an hydrolysis of PC, with an apparent enthalpy change of −8·3 kcal/mole. During longer contractions, the PC hydrolysis was accompanied by a net ATP hydrolysis and appearance of AMP and IMP.6. For the first 2 sec of contraction in the poisoned muscles, the observed heat agreed with that expected from the observed chemical changes multiplied by their molar enthalpy changes. After 2 sec, the observed heat was greater than that expected. At 12 sec this excess was about 74 mcal/g. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.