Iodoacetate-induced contracture in rat skeletal muscle: possible role of ADP.

The effects of iodoacetic acid (IAA) and ischemic contraction were studied in rat extensor digitorum longus muscles. Ischemic contraction of IAA-treated muscles produced contracture. The onset of contracture was not associated with a change in sarcolemmal electrical properties or reduction in intracellular [ATP]; however, [creatine phosphate] was reduced by 75% and free [ADP] was increased by 665%. Continued stimulation of IAA-treated fibers resulted in depolarization, loss of membrane excitability, further depletion of creatine phosphate, and reduction in [ATP]. The effects seen in IAA-treated muscle did not appear to result from a direct action of IAA on the surface membrane, contractile proteins, or excitation-contraction coupling. The contractures in IAA-treated muscle may have resulted from increased Ca sensitivity of the contractile proteins, increased myoplasmic [Ca], or both. Both effects may have resulted from increased [ADP]. In addition, the reduced acidification during ischemic contraction of IAA-treated fibers compared with control fibers may have further increased the Ca sensitivity of IAA-treated fibers compared with controls.