Posttetanic potentiation and skeletal muscle fatigue: interactions with caffeine

The purpose of this study was to determine the interaction of three factors that modify twitch contraction amplitude in the rat gastrocnemius muscle in situ: posttetanic potentiation, fatigue, and caffeine. Posttetanic (200 Hz for 1 s) twitch responses were observed before and after 15 Hz stimulation for 6 min (group FS), injection of caffeine (75 mg/kg dissolved in saline, group NC), a combination of both repetitive stimulation and caffeine injection (group FC), or no treatment (group NS). Developed tension increased significantly with posttetanic potentiation and caffeine injection and these potentiating factors were additive (group NC). Repetitive stimulation attenuated the twitch response and the fatigued muscle was still responsive to the potentiating factors. Posttetanic potentiation was accomplished primarily by a significant increase in the peak rate of force development whereas caffeine potentiation and fatigue were effected with a proportional change in contraction time. It seems likely that the mechanism of posttetanic potentiation is not the same as the mechanism of caffeine-induced potentiation. Caffeine-induced potentiation is known to be related to increased release of calcium. Because changes in contraction time with fatigue were opposite to those associated with caffeine potentiation, it is proposed that the attenuated twitch response in fatigue results from reduced release of calcium.