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Effects of steady electric fields on human retinal pigment epithelial cell orientation and migration in culture
Author(s) -
Sulik Gregory L.,
Soong H. Kaz,
Chang Patricia C. T.,
Parkinson William C.,
Elner Susan G.,
Elner Victor M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1992.tb02102.x
Subject(s) - lamellipodium , retinal , electric field , retinal pigment epithelium , somatic cell , microbiology and biotechnology , elongation , chemistry , biophysics , anatomy , cell migration , cell , biology , optics , materials science , physics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , ultimate tensile strength , gene , metallurgy
Low‐level, steady electric fields of 6–10 volts/cm stimulated directional orientation and translocation of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. The orientative movements (galvanotropism) consisted of somatic elongation of the cells into spindle shapes, followed by pivotal alignment orthogonal to the field. The anodal edges of the cells underwent retraction of their plasmalemmal extensions, while the cathode edges and the longitudinal ends developed lamellipodia and ruffled membranes. These tropic movements were followed by a translocational movement (galvanotaxis) of the cells towards the cathode. Staining of these migrating cells for actin showed the accumulation of stress fibers at the leading (cathodal) edge, as well as at the longitudinal ends of the elongated somata. These results suggest that endogenous, biologically‐generated electric fields (eg., injury currents) may play a role in the guidance and migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells after retinal injury.