Electric field-induced fusion of mitochondria.
Fusion of mitochondria in H-medium from rat liver was induced by the application of square-wave voltage with electric field strengths of 1-2.5 kV/cm and duration 100 microseconds. Electron micrographs showed that the newly fused mitochondria could contain up to five mitoplasts. The fusion yield was close to 12% and respiratory activity was enhanced. The electric field lines did not go through the inner membrane, however, when the electric field strength was greater than 3 kV/cm they did so, resulting in total destruction of the mitochondria.
Reynaud
J A
JA
Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS, Orléans, France.
Labbe
H
H
Lequoc
K
K
Lequoc
D
D
Nicolau
C
C
D000818:Animals; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains