Control of wave propagation in a biological excitable medium by an external electric field.
We present an experimental evidence of effects of external electric fields (EFs) on the velocity of pulse waves propagating in a biological excitable medium. The excitable medium used is formed by a layer of starving cells of Dictyostelium discoideum through which the waves of increased concentration of cAMP propagate by reaction-diffusion mechanism. External dc EFs of low intensities (up to 5 V/cm) are shown to speed up the propagation of cAMP waves towards the positive electrode and slow it down towards the negative electrode. Electric fields were also found to support an emergence of new centers, emitting cAMP waves, in front of cAMP waves propagating towards the negative electrode.
Sebestikova
Lenka
L
Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Abteilung Biophysik, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Universitätsplatz 2, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
Slamova
Elena
E
Sevcikova
Hana
H
D000818:Animals; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004023:Dictyostelium / Q000502:physiology*; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004594:Electrophysiology; D013997:Time Factors
D000242:Cyclic AMP