Studies on contractures induced in mouse diaphragm by caffeine and cupric and selenite ions

Mouse diaphragm contractures induced by Cu2+, caffeine and selenite were studied comparatively. Both Cu2+- and caffeine-contractures were produced rapidly and relaxed spontaneously; the selenite-contracture occurred after a latent period of about 45 min and lasted for more than 3 hr. All contractures were myogenic, since neither d-tubocurarine nor tetrodotoxin prevented them. The susceptibility of these contractures to the depletion and replenishment of Ca2+ differed: the Cu2+-contracture increased proportionally with rising extracellular Ca2+ concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 12.5 mM and were abolished by 5 mM EGTA. Caffeine- and selenite-contractures were not affected by changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration. The caffeine-contracture was abolished by EGTA in high concentration (30 mM) and the selenite-contracture was inhibited by 50 mM EGTA. After removal of Ca2+ with 5 mM EGTA, followed by replacement with 2.5 mM Ca2+ for 1 min, the Cu2(+)-contracture was fully restored. Caffeine- and selenite-contractures were restored only after a longer period (10-20 min) of re-exposure to Ca2+. These findings suggest that the Cu2(+)-contracture is dependent on external Ca2+ and probably caused by an increasing Ca2+ entry through sarcolemma. Caffeine- and selenite-contractures apparently result from internal Ca2+ release by sarcoplasmic reticulum. Substitution of either Sr2+ or Co2+ for Ca2+ fully supports the Cu2(+)-contracture. 45Ca2+ uptake and calcium content of the diaphragm were markedly increased by Cu2+ but not by selenite. Furthermore, the Cu2(+)-contracture was inhibited by exposing the outer membrane to trypsin, phospholipase C or saponin. The selenite-contracture was inhibited only by trypsin. The caffeine-contracture was unaffected by these treatments. These results support the notion that the Cu2(+)-contracture is induced by an increased entry of Ca2+ through the outer membrane. Cu2(+)-, caffeine- and selenite-contractures were respectively abolished, potentiated and unaffected by chronic denervation of the diaphragm. This and the other findings provide evidence that Cu2(+)-, caffeine- and selenite-contractures are induced in mouse diaphragm muscle via different sites of action.