Effect of denervation on the total metal content of skeletal muscle

Abstract

Effect of sciatic denervation on the level of potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper and iron in the gastrocnemius of the rat was studied. Following denervation, copper exhibited most pronounced increase in the muscle. Potassium and magnesium did not change at first, but they decreased later; conversely, iron showed initially an apparent increase which became later less obvious. Calcium decreased first, then increased. On the whole, heavy metals appear to be chelated in place of alkaline metals. However, there was also some difference among alkaline metals, calcium behaving somewhat opposite to potassium and magnesium in their chelation.