Trichinella spiralis: skeletal muscle membrane potentials in infected and uninfected mice

Male albino mice were infected orally with 400 ± 10 excysted Trichinella spiralis larvae. Skeletal muscle resting membrane potentials were recorded from the tibialis anterior muscles of infected and uninfected mice on the following days postinfection (PI): 1–15, 18, 20, 24, 28, 30–60 (at 5-day intervals), 90, 120, 150, and 180. The membrane potentials were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in infected muscle (82 vs 85 mV) on Day 30 PI. On Days 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 PI the mean membrane potential in infected muscle (62 mV) was about 23 mV lower than the mean for uninfected muscle (85 mV) and this difference was highly significant (P < 0.001). These findings are discussed in relationship to other physiological alterations known to occur in skeletal muscles infected with T. spiralis larvae.