Effects of sodium extrusion and local anaesthetics on muscle membrane resistance and potential.

1. Membrane potentials and resistances of K-depleted muscles were measured in the cold and again after warming in K-containing media so that active ion movements occurred.2. On warming there was a fall of resistance and a gradual rise of potential which passed through a maximum. Later measurements of resistance in a chloride medium showed that values were, if anything, higher than initially in the warm.3. The excess potentials measured approximated to those required to induce passive inward movement of the K ions through the measured K resistance.4. Permeabilities for K(+) and Cl(-) were deduced. When cocaine, procaine, amytal or mepyramine were added or when K(+) was replaced by Rb(+) in the Cl(-)-free solution the K(+) permeability was eventually reduced. The same agents led to an enhanced initial response of potential to warming, but later the potentials in Cl(-)-free media fell to less than the K(+) equilibrium values.5. A method for obtaining the resistivity of the membrane from measurements made in conditions of non-linear voltage-current dependence was applied.