OXIDATIVE DAMAGE OF THE MEMBRANE-LIPIDS AFTER ELECTROPORATION

Electric field pulses used for cell manipulation can cause irreversibl e cell damage. The mechanisms of the processes leading to such cell da mage are very complicated. Our work demonstrated that exponential elec tric pulses with intensity of 2-7.5 kV/cm and duration of 5.2 ms were able to initiate peroxidation of fatty acid emulsions, liposomal membr anes. red blood and Ehrlich ascite tumor cells. Electric pulses-induce d peroxidation of erythrocyte membranes was followed by hemolysis. The electric treatment caused damage of E. coli membrane lipids which was accompanied by decreased cell survival. All these effects depended on field intensity. A relatively good correlation between pulse-induced peroxidation of erythrocyte membranes and hemolysis was observed. Thes e results suggest that free radical mediated processes as lipid peroxi dation and/or lipid degradation or fragmentation may be possible cause s for electric pulses-induced irreversible cell damage.