title: Electrorotation of axolotl embryos.
abstract: The frequency dependent dielectric properties of individual axolotl embryos (Ambystoma mexicanum) were investigated experimentally utilizing the technique of electrorotation. Individual axolotl embryos, immersed in low conductivity media, were subjected to a known frequency and fixed amplitude rotating AC electric field and the ensuing rotational motion of the embryo was monitored using a conventional optical microscope. None of the embryos in the pregastrulation or neurulation stages of development exhibited any rotational motion over the field frequency range (10 Hz-5 MHz). Over the same frequency range, the embryos in the gastrulation stage of development exhibited both co-field and counterfield rotation over different ranges of the applied field frequency. Typically, the counterfield rotation exhibited a peak in the rotation spectrum at similar 1 KHz while the co-field peak was located at similar 1-2 MHz. The rotational spectral data was analyzed using a multishelled spherical embryo model to determine the electrical character of embryos during the early development stages (Stages 5-16; i.e., 16 cell through open neural plate stages).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Ghalia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abou-Ali
authors.forename: Karan V I S
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Kaler
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Natalie K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Björklund
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D008954:Models, Biological