N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone: a free radical trap with unanticipated effects on diaphragm function

The spin trap N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) has a high avidity for free radical species and hence functions as an antioxidant in many biological systems. As such, we hypothesized that PBN would have powerful antioxidant effects on muscle function. We examined the effects of PBN on directly stimulated in vitro (37 degrees C) rat diaphragm. First, a dose-response curve for the effects of PBN on force frequency (n = 8) was established by comparing PBN-treated muscle strips (0.01-10 mM) with time- and stimulus-matched control strips. Second, the effect of 1.0 mM PBN on muscle endurance (n = 8) was established. Our findings were as follows. 1) Compared with baseline, peak twitch and low-frequency muscle tensions increased in a dose-dependent fashion, with peak effects at 1.0 mM PBN. 2) Muscle function at all stimulation frequencies was depressed at doses above 1.0 mM PBN. 3) Complete inhibition at 10 mM PBN was reversed with caffeine administration or washout. 4) During early fatigue, 1.0 mM PBN facilitated force. However, endurance time decreased in the PBN-treated group. We conclude that PBN has direct reversible dose-dependent effects on diaphragm function. However, facilitation of low-frequency forces and the lack of fatigue-attenuating properties suggest that PBN has atypical antioxidant effects on muscle function.