THE INFLUENCE OF MEMBRANE-PERMEABILITY FOR IONS ON CELL BEHAVIOR IN AN ELECTRIC ALTERNATING-FIELD

The behaviour of a cell in an electric alternating field has been inve stigated, taking into account the field-induced diffusion hows of ions through the membrane. We computed the difference in ion concentration between the internal and external sides of the membrane and the trans membrane diffusion potential induced by the external field. We also st udied the effects of these flows on dielectric properties of a tissue in the radio frequency range. The value of the electric permittivity a t low frequencies decreases gradually with the increase of membrane pe rmeability for ions, while the electric permittivity at high frequenci es is unchanged. These effects are especially important for analysis o f the dielectric spectrum of a tissue or cell suspension which has und ergone the influence of various physical or chemical agents, e.g. ioni zing radiation or detergents.