For my physiology lab, we looked at the effects of nicotine on muscular contract

Question

For my physiology lab, we looked at the effects of nicotine on muscular contraction in a northern leopard frog. Some questions that were posed were:

1) Why would the presence of nicotine cause the muscle to contract at a greater force?

2) Why would the presence of nicotine cause the muscle to fatigue faster and induce tetanus faster?

3) Why would the presence of nicotine cause the return to baseline to happen faster after induced muscular fatigue?

Can i get some help with the physiological mechanisms that would explain each of those questions?

Explanation / Answer

1. Nicotine has a physiological effect because it binds to receptors on neuromuscular system. It affects skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles which results in acute and chronic muscular disfunctions which includes paralysis, asphyxiation and decrease in appetite.

Nicotine causes tonic contractions in muscle. Various twitches usually affect the whole length of the muscle fiber. The tonic contractions which has spread throughout the muscle fibers might be due to either conduction in fibers or due to diffusion of nicotine along the fibers.

2.Nicotine enters blood stream quickly and affects brain chemicals which cause a boost in energy levels and a reduction in stress. Further energy and mood levels also begin to decline.

Nicotine has negative effects on energy levels and easily leads to fatigue and reduced respiratory function. An efficient vaccine would generate antibodies that would sequester nicotine into blood and prevent its access to brain.Due ti in efficiency of vaccines and over use of nicotine fatigue occurs which therby induces tetanus faster.

3.After muscle fatigue nicotine causes faster return to baseline due to the effect of acetylcholine .Tolerance to nicotine induced stimulation of locomotor activity has been found .

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