Force reduction uncoupled from pH and H(2)PO(-)(4) in rat gastrocnemius in vivo with continuous 2-Hz stimulation

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the products of ATP hydrolysis on the fatigue process in rat gastrocnemius in vivo. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-400 g) were anesthetized and ventilated in a custom-built cradle fitted with a force transducer that could be placed into a 7-T NMR magnet. The muscle was stimulated continuously at 2 Hz for 20 min (n = 7). Isometric twitch force increased in the first 4 min of stimulation accompanied by changes in twitch duration (20% increase in relaxation time). Prolonged relaxation was associated with changes in cytosolic pH (6.91 to 6.58), lactate (1.8 to 12.6 micromol/g wet wt), and H(2)PO (7.57 to 13.99 mM). After 4 min, relaxation time, pH, lactate, and H(2)PO returned toward control values as twitch force progressively decreased. No correlation was found between force decline (or twitch broadening) and total phosphate (3 to 23 mM), free [ADP] (18 to 95 microM), free [Mg(2+)] (0.58 to 0.96 mM), or free energy of ATP hydrolysis (-65 to -55 kJ/mol). We conclude that force decline is not due to increased pH and/or H(2)PO but to fatigue of the fast-twitch fibers, possibly linked to glycogen depletion and/or failure of nerve impulse transmission in these fibers.