The Effect of Removing and Readmitting Glucose on the Electrical and Mechanical Activity and Glucose and Glycogen Content of Intestinal Smooth Muscle from the Taenia Coli of the Guinea Pig

Axelsson, J., S. G. R. Högberg and A. R. Timms. The effect of removing and readmitting glucose on the electrical and mechanical activity and glucose and glycogen content of intestinal smooth muscle from the taenia coli of the guinea‐pig . Acta physiol. scand. 1965. 64 . 28–42. The effects of changing the glucose concentration in the bathing solution on frequency of spike discharge, membrane potential, and on the mechanical responses is described quantitatively and related to tissue content of glucose and glycogen. Removing glucose increases and readmitting inhibits spike discharge. The membrane potential depends on carbohydrate metabolism for its maintenance. Its dependence is, however, quantitatively or qualitatively different from that of the contractile mechanism. Spike discharge of high frequency persisted for hours after the mechanical response was abolished. In glucose‐free solution the mechanical response fell in parallel with tissue content of glycogen. In normal solution there was no correlation between tension and glycogen content.