Sarcolemmal slow conductance increase of frog sartorius fibers during hyperpolarization

The properties of the hyperpolarization-activated sarcolemmal slow conductance increase in frog sartorius muscle fibers have been investigated using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) and propionate Ringer solution. More than 1 sec was required for maximum activation of the sarcolemmal slwo conductance increase. It is suggested that, although the sarcolemmal slow conductance increase was affected by deterioration, the conductance increase is not a direct product of deterioration but it represents a property of the sarcolemma which is encountered in physiological range. The sarcolemmal conductance increase was rather insensitive to the change in pH of Ringer solution. It is inferred that the absence of bellying in newly penetrated intact fibers at neutral and alkaline pHs is caused mainly by the shunting effect of large parallel conductance. Apparent augmentation with EDTA of the sarcolemmal conductance increase infers that Ca ions affect the conductance increase. The conductance increase occurred also in the EDTA-containing Cl-deficient solution. The sarcolemmal slow conductance increase has been compared with the change in Cl conductance reported by Hutter and Warner, and Warner.