Reexamination of electrical stimulation on sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments in vitro

The effect of direct electrical stimulation on suspensions of sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane fragments (SRF) was carefully re-examined using the method of Lee et al. (1966) J. Gen. Physiol. 49:689. Inhibition of Ca(++) uptake or release by electrical stimulation was observed. When platinum electrodes were used as stimulating electrodes, the effect was dependent on the total current passed through the suspension. On the contrary, when silver-silver chloride electrodes were used, no effect was observed even if voltage and current were the same as in the case of the platinum electrodes. In addition, apparent re-uptake of Ca(++) after cessation of electrical stimulation using platinum electrodes was shown to be due to a binding of Ca(++) to denatured SRF which did not require an energy supply such as ATP, although such re-uptake had been taken as strong evidence of electrical response of SRF in Lee's paper. Finally, it was concluded that the effect of electrical stimulation on SRF was attributable to the irreversible denaturation of SRF due to the oxidation caused by the chlorine generated at the platinum electrode.