Electrical pulse stimulation decreases electrochemical Na+ and K+ gradients in C2C12 myotubes

Electrical pulse stimulation (EPS)-treated cultured myotubes are widely employed as an in vitro model of muscle contraction. Here we examined time-dependent EPS action and dose-dependent ouabain action on [Na+]i and [K+]i in C2C12 myotubes. After 2 h of EPS (40 V, 1 Hz, 10 ms) [Na+]i increased by ∼150% whereas [K+]i declined by ∼20%. 3 μM ouabain had a negligible impact on [Na+]i and [K+]i in control cells but increased the [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio in EPS-treated myotubes by 85%. Thus, our results show for the first time that EPS results in dissipation of Na+ and K+ gradients in cultured myotubes and suggest that the augmented production of endogenous cardiotonic steroids may contribute to elevation of the [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio in exercising muscle.