ON THE DIELECTRIC METHOD OF MONITORING CELLULAR VIABILITY

It is shown that the dielectric method is a valid way of monitoring ce llular viability in situations where the mechanism causing death leads rapidly to gross cell lysis. We also show that the monitoring of capa citance at a single low radio frequency does reflect the actual dielec tric properties of the cell suspension as judged from frequency scanni ng methods. It is tentatively suggested that the initial rise in capac itance of the suspension after the addition of the solvent is probably due to the cells' size/membrane area increasing, rather than a direct effect of the solvent on the membrane permittivity.