Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1969 Jul;203(1):121–133. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008854

Post-tetanic potentiation at the neuromuscular junction of the frog

Jean Rosenthal
PMCID: PMC1351518  PMID: 5821861

Abstract

1. Post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) was studied at the neuromuscular junction of the frog. The magnitude and time course of PTP was dependent on the number of stimuli in the tetanus, rather than on the frequency or duration of the tetanus. At low temperature the maximum amplitude of PTP was unchanged, but the time course was prolonged.

2. The magnitude and time course of PTP was accounted for quantitatively by estimated changes in the fraction of transmitter released per stimulus.

3. As external [Ca] was reduced, the time for decay of PTP was decreased. The maximum amplitude of PTP, measured with respect to control amplitude at the same [Ca], was unchanged, but occurred at earlier times. The time course of PTP was dependent only on the [Ca] present during the tetanus.

4. It is concluded that PTP is associated with an intracellular accumulation of Ca during the tetanus.

Full text

PDF
129

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Braun M., Schmidt R. F. Potential changes recorded from the frog motor nerve terminal during its activation. Pflugers Arch Gesamte Physiol Menschen Tiere. 1966;287(1):56–80. doi: 10.1007/BF00362454. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Braun M., Schmidt R. F., Zimmermann M. Facilitation at the frog neuromuscular junction during and after repetitive stimulation. Pflugers Arch Gesamte Physiol Menschen Tiere. 1966;287(1):41–55. doi: 10.1007/BF00362453. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. CURTIS D. R., ECCLES J. C. Synaptic action during and after repetitive stimulation. J Physiol. 1960 Feb;150:374–398. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006393. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DEL CASTILLO J., KATZ B. Quantal components of the end-plate potential. J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):560–573. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005129. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Elmqvist D., Quastel D. M. A quantitative study of end-plate potentials in isolated human muscle. J Physiol. 1965 Jun;178(3):505–529. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1965.sp007639. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gage P. W., Hubbard J. I. An investigation of the post-tetanic potentiation of end-plate potentials at a mammalian neuromuscular junction. J Physiol. 1966 May;184(2):353–375. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1966.sp007919. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HUBBARD J. I. REPETITIVE STIMULATION AT THE MAMMALIAN NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION, AND THE MOBILIZATION OF TRANSMITTER. J Physiol. 1963 Dec;169:641–662. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1963.sp007286. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HUTTER O. F. Post-tetanic restoration of neuromuscular transmission blocked by D-tubocurarine. J Physiol. 1952 Oct;118(2):216–227. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1952.sp004788. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KATZ B., MILEDI R. THE EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE FROM MOTOR NERVE TERMINALS. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1965 Feb 16;161:496–503. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1965.0017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LILEY A. W. An investigation of spontaneous activity at the neuromuscular junction of the rat. J Physiol. 1956 Jun 28;132(3):650–666. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1956.sp005555. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LILEY A. W., NORTH K. A. An electrical investigation of effects of repetitive stimulation on mammalian neuromuscular junction. J Neurophysiol. 1953 Sep;16(5):509–527. doi: 10.1152/jn.1953.16.5.509. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Lloyd S., Pickford M. The effect of oxytocin and adrenaline on blood flow in the hind limb of the dog following chronic lumbar sympathectomy. J Physiol. 1967 Sep;192(1):43–52. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1967.sp008286. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Mallart A., Martin A. R. An analysis of facilitation of transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction of the frog. J Physiol. 1967 Dec;193(3):679–694. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1967.sp008388. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Reuter H., Seitz N. The dependence of calcium efflux from cardiac muscle on temperature and external ion composition. J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(2):451–470. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008467. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. TAKEUCHI A. The long-lasting depression in neuromuscular transmission of frog. Jpn J Physiol. 1958 Jun 15;8(2):102–113. doi: 10.2170/jjphysiol.8.102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. THIES R. E. NEUROMUSCULAR DEPRESSION AND THE APPARENT DEPLETION OF TRANSMITTER IN MAMMALIAN MUSCLE. J Neurophysiol. 1965 May;28:428–442. doi: 10.1152/jn.1965.28.3.427. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES