Pathways of high and low voltage electrical stimulation in sheep carcasses

Using the neuromuscular blocking agent, curare, the involvement of the nervous system in the transmission of high (850 V peak) and low voltage (45 V peak) electrical stimulation in sheep carcasses was studied. Post-mortem metabolism in the Longissimus dorsi, Semitendinosus and Semimembranosus muscles was followed by measuring changes in pH, adenosine triphosphate, creatine phosphate, inorganic phosphate and hexose monophosphate. Stimulation was considered to be effective if it accelerated glycolysis. Low voltage stimulation of glycolysis was completely inhibited by curare, indicating that a functional nervous system is required for effective stimulation by low voltages. In contrast, high voltage stimulation of glycolysis was not affected by curare, indicating that high voltages exert their effect by depolarising the cell membrane directly.