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Enhancement of K + conductance improves in vitro the contraction force of skeletal muscle in hypokalemic periodic paralysis
Author(s) -
Grafe Peter,
Quasthoff Stefan,
Strupp Michael,
LehmannHorn Frank
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880130513
Subject(s) - hypokalemic periodic paralysis , cromakalim , skeletal muscle , periodic paralysis , contraction (grammar) , muscle contraction , paralysis , depolarization , chemistry , medicine , hypokalemia , endocrinology , biophysics , biology , surgery , agonist , receptor
An abnormal ratio between Na + and K + conductances seems to be the cause for the depolarization and paralysis of skeletal muscle in primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Recently we have shown that the „k + channel opener” cromakalim hyperpolarizes mammalian skeletal muscle fibers. Now we have studied the effects of this drug on the twitch force of muscle biopsies from normal and diseased human skeletal muscle. Cromakalim had little effect on the twitch force of normal muscle whereas it strongly improved the contraction force of fibers from patients suffering from hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Recordings of intracellular K + and Cl − activities in human muscle and isolated rat soleus muscle support the view that cromakalim enhances the membrane K + conductance (gK + ). These data indicate that ”K + channel openers„ may have a beneficial effect in primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis.