The effect of external calcium and magnesium ions on the response of denervated muscle to acetylcholine.

1. The effect of external Ca and Mg on the membrane depolarization and contracture of rat denervated muscle in response to acetylcholine, ACh, was studied. 2. Raising external Ca concentration reduced the rate of rise and the amplitude of the ACh contracture, and prolonged its time course. 3. Increasing external Ca reduced the membrane depolarization in response to ACh. The dose increment required to elicit depolarization in high Ca concentration increased with external Ca, and was greater for depolarization than for contracture. 4. External Mg was less effect than Ca in reducing ACh depolarization but was more effective in reducing contracture. In contrast to Ca, Mg did not alter the time course of relaxation. 5. It is concluded that external Ca has two opposing effects on the ACh contracture: one of stabilizing the membrane and the other of increasing intracellular Ca concentration. External Mg may interfere with Ca influx and hence reduce contractility.