title: Model approaches for evaluation of cell coupling in monolayers.
abstract: The electrical coupling of epithelial cells of the intestine of chick embryo cultured in monolayers was studied. This coupling can be evaluated by regarding the monolayer as a honeycomb structure of cells and the cells as equipotential spaces, as long as the cells are small (diameter <25μm). With help of this discrete model it was found that for the non-junctional membrane the membrane resistance isϱ m =250-2,000 Ω cm(2), and for the junctional membraneϱ m =5-50 Ω cm(2). In addition to this discrete model, a continuous model was also considered and good agreement between the two descriptions was found. With the aid of the continuous model, a value for the non-junctional membrane capacitance (C m ) was obtained: 5-50 μF/cm(2). The electrical values are not corrected for membrane folding, microvilli and the like. Tentative corrections based on electron microscopy suggest: 1,000 <ϱ m < 10,000 Ω cm(2), 10 <ϱ m < 100 Ω cm(2), 1<C m < 10 μF/cm(2.)
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Department, Physical Laboratory, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegenbeek van Heukelom
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Denier van der Gon
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Prop