MUSCLE: VOLUME CHANGES IN ISOLATED SINGLE FIBERS

Abstract

Volumetric experiments on single fibers isolated from semiten-dinosus muscles of frogs, some performed in correlation with measurements of membrane potential, confirm the data obtained on whole muscles, but only for the specific range of conditions in which most of the latter experiments have been done. These conditions are restricted to media in which the anion ( Cl usually) is permanent and the K is 10 to 12.5 meqlliter, or four to five times above the normal level in Ringer's solution. When other ionic conditions are employed, phenomena are disclosed which have not previously been described. The findings throw doubt upon the validity of some generally accepted views regarding the permeability properties of the membrane of frog muscle fibers and regarding the nature of the mechanisms which regulate their volume.