Altered impedance during pigment aggregation in Xenopus laevis melanophores.
Med Biol Eng Comput
; 41(3): 357-64, 2003 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12803303
ABSTRACT
Melanophores are dark-brown pigment cells located in the skin of amphibia, fish and many invertebrates. The skin colour of these organisms is regulated by the translocation of pigment organelles, and the pigment distribution can be altered by external stimuli. The ability to change colour in response to stimuli makes these cells of interest for biosensing applications. It was investigated whether pigment aggregation in Xenopus laevis melanophores can be detected by impedance measurements performed in transparent microvials. The results show that cell attachment, cell spreading and pigment aggregation all resulted in impedance changes, seen particularly at the highest frequency tested (10 kHz). The mechanisms behind the impedance changes were investigated by the addition of latrunculin or melatonin, both of which cause pigment aggregation. The latrunculin-induced aggregation was associated with cell area decrease and filamentous actin (F-actin) breakdown, processes that can influence the impedance. Lack of F-actin breakdown and an increase in cell area during melatonin-induced aggregation suggest that some other intracellular process also contributes to the impedance decrease seen for melatonin. It was shown that impedance measurements reflect not only cell attachment and cell spreading, but also intracellular events.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pigmentos Biológicos
/
Xenopus laevis
/
Melanóforos
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2003
Tipo de documento:
Article