The myofilament lattice: studies on isolated fibers. I. The constancy of the unit-cell volume with variation in sarcomere length in a lattice in which the thin-to-thick myofilament ratio is 6:1

The spacing between the thick myofilaments of muscle fibers from the walking legs of crayfish (Orconectes) was determined by optical transform analysis of electron micrograph plates of fixed single fibers and by X-ray diffraction of living single fibers. Sarcomere lengths were determined by light diffraction prior to fixation and prior to the in vivo experiments. From these combined measurements, it is demonstrated that the unit-cell volume of the myofilament lattice is constant during muscle shortening, indicating that the myofilament lattice works in a constant-volume manner. It is further demonstrated with X-ray diffraction measurements of living single fibers that the myofilament lattice continues to work at constant volume after the sarcolemma is removed from the fiber. This indicates that the constant-volume behavior of muscle is inherent to the myofilament lattice.

Idiopathic rhabdomyolysis

The clinical, biochemical, and pathological findings in 2 children with idiopathic rhabdomyolysis are reported. Hypocalcaemic tetany, a previously unrecognized complication of severe muscle damage, was seen in one child and was associated with hyperphosphataemia and hyperphosphaturia consequent on the rhabdomyolysis. Respiratory distress and an acute tubular necrosis contributed to her eventual death. The second child recovered; an intracellulr granular material of unknown nature was seen in his muscle biopsy on electron microscopy. The literature of idiopathic recurrent rhabdomyolysis occurring in childhood is reviewed.

Cable parameters, sodium, potassium, chloride, and water content, and potassium efflux in isolated external intercostal muscle of normal volunteers and patients with myotonia congenita

In isolated fiber bundles of external intercostal muscle from each of 13 normal volunteers and each of 6 patients with myotonia congenita, some or all of the following were measured: concentrations of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-), extracellular volume, water content, K(+) efflux, fiber size, fiber cable parameters, and fiber resting potentials. Muscle from patients with myotonia congenita differed significantly (0.001 <P< 0.025) with respect to the following mean values (myotonia congenita vs. normal): the membrane resistance was greater (5729 vs. 2619 omega.cm(2)), the internal resistivity was less (75.0 vs. 123.2 omega.cm), the water content was less (788.2 vs. 808.2 ml/kg wet weight), and the mean resting potential was greater (68 vs. 61 mv).NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WERE FOUND WITH RESPECT TO THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES: K(+) content (73.5 vs. 66.7 mEq/kg wet weight) and the calculated intracellular K(+) concentration (215 vs. 191 mEq/liter fiber water), fiber capacitance (5.90 vs. 5.15 muf/cm(2)), Na(+) content (97.7 vs. 94.1 mEq/kg wet weight), Cl(-) content (79.0 vs. 74.7 mEq/kg wet weight), mannitol extracellular volume (45.1 vs. 46.6 cc/100 g wet weight), and K(+) efflux (23.2 vs. 21.5 moles x 10(-12) cm(-2).sec(-1)). These abnormalities of skeletal muscle in human myotonia congenita are like those of skeletal muscle in goats with hereditary myotonia. We tentatively conclude that a decreased Cl(-) permeability accounts for some of the abnormal electrical properties of skeletal muscle in myotonia congenita.

Ultrastructure of a glomus tumour

The ultrastructure of a glomus tumour is described, and the implications of the findings with regard to the histogenesis of this type of tumour are briefly discussed.