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. 1972 Mar;69(3):613–616. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.3.613

Methylxanthine-Induced Escalation: A Propagated Wave Phenomenon Observed in Skeletal Muscle Developing in Culture

Annette W Coleman *, John R Coleman *, James D Griffin *,†, Joel K Weltman *,†, K M Chapman *
PMCID: PMC426518  PMID: 4551980

Abstract

Relatively low concentrations of methylxanthines increase spontaneous twitching in cultured muscle fibers; they also cause a second activity, escalation, which is the initiation and undiminished propagation of visible waves. The effect on twitching is abolished by depolarizing concentrations of K+ or by tetrodotoxin; the effect on escalation is not. Escalation is prevented by removal of external Ca++ or by the addition of tetracaine.

Keywords: chicken, tetrodotoxin, Ca++, tetracaine, theophyllin, aminophyllin

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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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