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Influence of Calcium Ions on Potassium Contracture in an Insect Leg Muscle

Nature volume 198, pages 591–592 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

A NUMBER of recent investigations have shown that the presence of calcium ions in the physiological saline is necessary for the production of potassium contractures in vertebrate skeletal1,2, heart3 and smooth4 muscle. As a result of these and other observations it seems probable that movement of calcium ions is involved in the process coupling excitation to contraction in vertebrate muscle5–7. In the case of vertebrate ‘twitch’ fibres, however, some doubt has been thrown on this view by the observations8 that depolarizing pulses produce contraction in the absence of calcium when certain other divalent cations are present. Investigations of this nature on insect muscles have previously been restricted to the spiracular muscle of the locust, where it was found that maximal potassium contractures were developed in calcium-free salines9. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of calcium in the potassium contracture of an insect leg muscle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge,

    D. J. AIDLEY

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  1. D. J. AIDLEY
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AIDLEY, D. Influence of Calcium Ions on Potassium Contracture in an Insect Leg Muscle. Nature 198, 591–592 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/198591a0

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