Am. Duke et Ds. Steele, Effects of creatine phosphate on Ca2+ regulation by the sarcoplasmic reticulum in mechanically skinned rat skeletal muscle fibres, J PHYSL LON, 517(2), 1999, pp. 447-458
1. The effect of creatine phosphate (PCr) on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca
2+ regulation was studied in mechanically skinned skeletal muscle fibres fr
om rat extensor digitorium longus (EDL). Preparations were perfused with so
lutions mimicking the intracellular milieu and the [Ca2+] within the muscle
was monitored continuously using fura-2.
2. Brief application of 40 mM caffeine caused a transient increase in [Ca2] due to SR Ca2+ release, and an associated tension response. Withdrawal of
PCr resulted in (i) a slow transient release of Ca2+ from the SR (ii) a ma
rked prolongation of the descending phase of the caffeine-induced fluoresce
nce ratio transient and (iii) a decrease in the Ca2+ transient amplitude to
69.2 +/- 2.7% (n = 16) of control responses.
3. Prolongation of the caffeine-induced Ca2+ transient also occurred follow
ing application of the SR Ca2+ pump inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Thi
s suggests that (i) the descending phase of the caffeine-induced Ca2+ trans
ient is dependent on the rate of Ca2+ uptake by the SR and (ii) prolongatio
n associated with PCr withdrawal may also reflect a decrease in the net Ca2
+ uptake rate.
4. The effects of PCr withdrawal were mimicked by addition of the creatine
kinase (CK) inhibitor 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB). Hence, reducing t
he [PCr] may influence SR Ca2+ regulation by limiting local ATP regeneratio
n by endogenous CK. After treatment with DNFB, PCr withdrawal had no effect
on the Ca2+ transient, confirming that PCr does not have an additional dir
ect effect on the SR.
5. The Ca2+ efflux associated with PCr withdrawal was insensitive to ryanod
ine or Ruthenium Red, but was effectively abolished by pretreatment with th
e SR Ca2+ pump inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). This suggests that the C
a2+ efflux associated with PCr withdrawal is independent of the SR Ca2+ cha
nnel, but may involve reversal or inhibition of the Ca2+ ATPase.
6. These data suggest that Ca2+ regulation by the SR is strongly dependent
on the supply of ATP via endogenous CK. Depletion of PCr may contribute to
impaired SR Ca2+ regulation known to occur in intact skeletal muscle under
conditions of fatigue.