Enhanced muscle fatigue occurs in male but not female ASIC3-/- mice.

Muscle fatigue is associated with a number of clinical diseases, including chronic pain conditions. Decreases in extracellular pH activates acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3), depolarizes muscle, protects against fatigue, and produces pain. We examined whether ASIC3-/- mice were more fatigable than ASIC3+/+ mice in a task-dependent manner.