Electroporation of cell membrane visualized under a pulsed-laser fluorescence microscope.
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.
Kinosita
K
K
Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Saitama, Japan.
Ashikawa
I
I
Saita
N
N
Yoshimura
H
H
Itoh
H
H
Nagayama
K
K
Ikegami
A
A
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