Ca45 uptake and tissue calcium in K-induced phasic and tonic contraction in taenia coli

High-K medium produces a tonic contraction in guinea pig taenia coli. If muscle strips are preincubated in glucose-free medium, K produces only a phasic contraction. A comparison of Ca45 entry and tissue Ca changes in the two responses were made. Both responses are accompanied by an enhanced uptake of Ca45. In addition to an increased Ca45 uptake, a significant rise of tissue Ca was observed during the tonic contraction. No detectable changes in tissue Ca were noted in the phasic contraction. In light of modern theories of muscle contraction, it was proposed that in the phasic contraction, sufficient Ca is released from a cellular site to initiate contraction, whereas in the tonic contraction enough Ca crosses the membrane to initiate contraction. The transmembrane Ca transport involved in the latter response appeared to be dependent on metabolism.