Elevated myoplasmic calcium in exercise-induced equine rhabdomyolysis.

Abstract

Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a myopathy of unknown pathophysiology. We measured intracellular resting calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) by means of Ca(2+)-selective microelectrodes in intercostal muscle fibers from horses suffering from rhabdomyolysis, and from horses with no evidence of neuromuscular disorder. [Ca2+]i was several-fold higher in muscle fibers from horses suffering from rhabdomyolysis when compared to controls. Treatment of rhabdomyolytic horses with dantrolene, an agent that prevents Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, reduced [Ca2+]i toward control values, and accelerated the recovery from this myopathy. These results indicate that an acute episode of rhabdomyolysis is associated with elevation in [Ca2+]i in skeletal muscles, and that dantrolene might be of benefit in treating this disease.

• Authors: J R López, N Linares, G Cordovez, A Terzic
• Journal: Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology (Pflugers Arch) Vol. 430 Issue 2 Pg. 293-5 (Jun 1995) ISSN: 0031-6768 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 7675639 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dantrolene
• Calcium

Topics

• Animals
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Dantrolene (therapeutic use)
• Horse Diseases (drug therapy, etiology, metabolism)
• Horses
• Microelectrodes
• Muscle, Skeletal (metabolism)
• Physical Exertion
• Rhabdomyolysis (etiology, metabolism, veterinary)
• Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (metabolism)