The quantity and spatial distribution of calcium bound to myofilaments
is of considerable interest to physiologists studying the regulation of
contraction in striated muscle, but few techniques allow these
distributions to be directly measured. Methods are described here by which
such data can be derived from electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPXMA)
images. Combination of data from multiple half sarcomeres improves the
signal-to-noise level and allows assessment of variation between half
sarcomeres. Profiles of calcium counts, calcium counts normalized to local
bremstrahlung counts, and calcium counts normalized to the average
bremstrahlung counts for the entire half sarcomere provide differing but
complementary information. Such data help to identify and characterize
spatial variations in Ca binding to regulatory proteins in muscle.