EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL FIELDS ON TWITCH IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE FIBERS

The twitch of skeletal muscle fibers was studied under the effects of external electrical fields. Time course of twitches were modified by the presence of electrical fields, while the maximum amplitude of tension remained almost unchanged. It is possible that electrical fields could be acting on the membrane structures of the transverse tubules modifying the excitation-contraction coupling. Alternatively, the alteration of visco-electrical properties of the contractile machinery is proposed as an explanation of this phenomena.