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. 1971 Jan;50(1):49–59. doi: 10.1172/JCI106483

Resting transmembrane potential difference of skeletal muscle in normal subjects and severely ill patients

J N Cunningham Jr 1, N W Carter 1, F C Rector Jr 1, D W Seldin 1
PMCID: PMC291892  PMID: 5101298

Abstract

The resting membrane potential difference (Em) of skeletal muscle was measured in 26 normal human subjects, 7 patients with mild illness, and 21 patients with severe, debilitating medical disorders. A closed transcutaneous approach to the muscle was made by needle puncture and the Em was measured utilizing standard Ling electrodes. Measurements revealed an Em of -88 ±3.8 mv in healthy subjects and -89 ±2.1 mv in patients hospitalized for minor medical problems. The mean Em in 21 in-hospital patients, judged to be severely ill clinically from a variety of causes, was -66.3 ±9.0 mv. Open deltoid muscle biopsies were performed in 7 of the healthy subjects and in 13 of the severely ill group. Estimation of the intra-extracellular water partition was made by calculating the chloride space from the previously measured Em. Analysis of the muscle samples revealed no significant difference in the intra-extracellular potassium ratios of the two groups biopsied. Intracellular Na+ concentrations were uniformly increased in the muscle samples of the severely ill subjects and averaged 42.3% higher than those of the normal subjects. The mechanisms which might account for the elevation of intracellular Na+ and a depression of Em independent of changes in intra-extracellular K+ ratios are discussed and it is suggested that this defect may be a generalized cellular abnormality which is a common quality of serious illnesses.

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Selected References

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

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