Influence of activity on the passive electrical properties of denervated soleus muscle fibres in the rat

Abstract

The technique of direct electrical stimulation of denervated muscle was used to study the role of muscle activity per se in controlling the passive electrical properties of muscle fibres. 2. Specific membrane resistance and capacitance of the denervated and the denervated-stimulated muscle fibres were measured by a sinewave technique at frequencies between 5 and 240 Hz. The parameter values were constant at low frequencies up to a variable transition frequency and declined rapidly at higher frequencies. 3. Following denervation the low-frequency value of specific membrane resistance increased (2291 omega cm2 for 19-day denervated fibres vs. 766 omega cm2 for innervated fibres), the specific membrane capacitance declined (2-7 muF/cm2 vs. 3-6 muF/cm2) and the transition frequency shifted towards lower frequencies. The specific internal resistance was higher in denervated fibres (301 omega cm for 19-day denervated fibres vs. 240 omega cm in innervated fibres) apart from a transient decline after 5 days of denervation (164 omega cm). 4. Direct electrical stimulation for 2 weeks beginning on the 5th day after denervation restored all parameters listed above to their original values before denervation. 5. Stimulation arrested in most cases further atrophy from the time of stimulation but did not restore normal fibre size.