Abstract
The effect of acute potassium intoxication on the neuromuscular transmission was studied in rabbits. The sciatic nerve was stimulated through bipolar electrode pairs and the electrical response of the gastrocnemius muscle was recorded. The stimulus necessary to evoke a maximal response, neuromuscular conduction time, nerve conduction time, amplitude and duration of response, refractory and irresponsive periods were measured as was the response to repeated stimulation at a rate of 3 per second. Hyperpotassemia was produced by i. v. infusion (1/2‐1 1/2 ml per min.) of isotonic solution of potassium chloride over 1/2–3 1/2 hours. The observed changes were: Prolonged neuromuscular conduction time, decreased amplitude and prolonged duration of response, prolonged refractory and irresponsive periods. These findings can be explained by a slowing of depolarization and re‐polarization near, at or distal to the neuromuscular junction. They were not caused by the metabolic acidosis nor by the hyponatremia which in some of the experiments accompanied the hyperpotassemia.
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