Abstract

Abstract How depolarisation of the T system causes the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is the least understood process in excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. One of the possibilities suggested1 is that depolarisation of the T system may somehow cause a potential change across the SR membrane which, in turn, induces the release of calcium. If this is actually the case, it should be possible to release calcium by directly akering the membrane potential of the SR itself in the appropriate direction.