The role of acetylcholine in tetraethylammonium induced contractures of the chick biventer cervicis muscle in the presence of lidocaine

Abstract

Lidocaine (0.92 mM) potentiated tetraethylammonium (TEA, 0.6-6 mM) induced contractures of the chick biventer cervicis muscle (BVC) in vitro. The dose ratio for TEA (EC50 in lidocaine/EC50 control) was 1.16 X 10(-3). Lidocaine (0.92 mM) blocked nerve and muscle action potentials in the BVC preparation, blocked slow fibre MEPPS, and blocked indirectly elicited muscle contraction. Lidocaine (0.92 mM) non-competitively blocked acetylcholine (ACh) induced contractures of the chick BVC. Gallamine competitively blocked ACh contractures (pA2 6.53) but produced only a relatively weak non-competitive block of TEA induced contractures in lidocaine. TEA induced contractures of the chick BVC in the presence of lidocaine probably do not involve ACh.