title: Electroporation of cell membrane visualized under a pulsed-laser fluorescence microscope.
abstract: Controlled permeability can be conferred to cell membranes by exposing cells to a microsecond electric pulse of sufficient intensity (electroporation). By constructing a fluorescence microimaging system with a submicrosecond time resolution we have been able to resolve temporally and spatially the events in a single cell under a microsecond electric pulse. An enormous membrane conductance, corresponding to a loss of 0.01-0.1% of the membrane area, was observed in those membrane regions where the transmembrane potential induced by the electric pulse exceeded a critical value. The conductance decreased to a low level in a submillisecond after the pulse, leaving a moderately electroporated cell.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinosita
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ashikawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagayama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikegami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D007834:Lasers; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D012617:Sea Urchins