Myotonia and block of chloride conductance by iodide in avian muscle.

Immature chickens and adult pigeons whose drinking water contained 3% KI for 1--10 days developed myotonia, characterized by stiffness on sudden movement and abnormal repetitive firing of skeletal muscle fibers. Component resting membrane conductances, excitability, and membrane potentials of biventer cervicis muscle fibers from adult pigeons were measured in vitro at 38--39degreesC. Fibers from iodide-treated pigeons in normal solution and fibers from untreated pigeons in I--containing solution (15--120 mM) responded repetitively to electrical and mechanical stimulation. Resting anion conductance (Ganion), assumed to be the sum of C1- and I- conductances, of fibers from iodide-treated pigeons decreased nonlinearly from 2,565 to 266 mumho/cm2 when the bath concentration of I- was increased from 0 to 120 mM. Potassium conductance was assumed constant at 577 mumho/cm2. Ganion of fibers from iodide-treated pigeons was 50% of control and equaled that of untreated fibers in 15 mM I- containing medium. Reduction of the stabilizing Ganion and increased mechanical responsiveness can account for the iodide-induced myotonia in birds.