THE EFFECT OF ENZYME INHIBITORS ON THE RESTING POTENTIAL AND ON THE ION DISTRIBUTION OF THE SARTORIUS MUSCLE OF THE FROG

Isolated frog sartorii were exposed for 30 minutes to HETP—an irreversible anti-cholinesterase, and were then soaked in Ringer's at 15°C. for 16 hours. At the end of the period of soaking the mean resting potential of the muscle fibers was only 29 mv. The decrease in the resting potential of the HETP-treated muscles was accompanied by a loss of potassium and a gain in sodium by the muscles. The effect of anticholinesterases on sodium extrusion was studied by incubating the muscles in a Ringer's containing half of the normal amount of sodium. The muscles respond by extruding sodium against a concentration gradient into the external medium. Sodium extrusion was blocked by prior exposure of the muscle to HETP, and reversibly blocked by exposure to physostigmine. The inhibition of sodium extrusion by physostigmine was correlated with the inhibition of the intracellular cholinesterase. Sodium extrusion was also blocked by high concentrations of 2-methyl-1,4-napthaquinone 8-sulfonic acid and by α-ketoglutarate, which are known to inhibit choline acetylase in vitro. But sodium extrusion was not affected by a third inhibitor of choline acetylase, phenobarbital. Sodium extrusion was unaffected by KCN and partially blocked by IAA. The IAA block was eliminated by the addition of pyruvate. It is concluded that either glycolysis or oxidative metabolism can furnish the energy needed for sodium extrusion.