DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF OSCILLATORY GENERATION OF SUPEROXIDE ANIONS BY SINGLE PHAGOCYTES

Phagocytic cells such as neutrophils generate superoxide anions (O-2(- )) within phagocytic vacuoles for killing and digesting microorganisms . Here we report the simultaneous observation of morphological changes and O-2(-) generation in single phagocytic cells during phagocytosis. Point stimulation of a cell by contact with an opsonized microelectro de at the cell surface induced significant deformation to engulf the e lectrode, and also induced the O-2(-) generation which was measured by the electrode, Periodic fluctuations in the magnitude of the O-2(-) g eneration mere observed in the time course. These oscillations may be caused by metabolic regulation of the formation of NADPH, which is the substrate for the O-2(-) generation.