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Introduction to Solid Supported Membrane Based Electrophysiology
Published on: May 11, 2013
ELECTROENDOSMOSIS THROUGH MAMMALIAN SEROUS MEMBRANES : III. THE RELATION OF CURRENT STRENGTH AND SPECIFIC RESISTANCE
1Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Electroendosmotic flow in animal membranes is proportional to current strength, with rates indicating a role in glandular secretion. This study quantifies transport rates in dog and cat serous membranes.
Area of Science:
- Physiological transport mechanisms
- Bioelectricity and electrokinetics
Background:
- Electroendosmotic flow is a phenomenon observed in biological membranes.
- Understanding transport rates is crucial for physiological processes like secretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the rate of electroendosmotic flow through dog and cat pericardia.
- To investigate the relationship between current strength and liquid transport.
- To explore the influence of buffer conductivity and membrane changes on transport rates.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of liquid transport rates across serous membranes (pericardia, mesenteries) under varying current strengths.
- Utilizing buffers with different specific resistances.
- Observing membrane polarization during current passage.
Main Results:
- Electroendosmotic flow rate is directly proportional to current strength.
- Transport rates showed a minimum between specific resistance values of 95 and 60 ohms.
- Membrane changes significantly affected transport rates near physiological blood conditions.
- Observed mean transport rates ranged from 0.19 to 0.30 c.mm./min/mA.
Conclusions:
- Electroendosmotic flow is a quantifiable process in animal serous membranes.
- The data strongly suggest electroendosmotic effects play a role in glandular secretion.
- Further research into bioelectric transport mechanisms is warranted.
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