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Electric Field Effects on Biological Membranes: Electroincorporation and Electrofusion

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Bioelectrochemistry II

Abstract

Based on the famous discovery of LUIGI GALVANI*, further experiments of discharge of a VOLTA—pile through tissues were performed by JOHANN WILHELM RITTER (1797–98) using sensory organs of his own body. Receptor cells of the tongue, the nose, the eyes were excited in an extraordinary way by pulses of 100–500 Volts (about 1 kV/cm) between needle electrodes [1]. During the 19th century nerve excitation and muscle convulsions by direct currents were studied intensively (E. DU BOIS-REYMOND, Germany; L. NOBILI, Italy; G. FECHNER, Germany [2]) by electric field pulses (spark inductor). J. LOEB [3] induced liquefaction of protoplasma and pseudopodia of infusoria/amoebae and enhanced the permeability of gland cells in the skin of cringing animals. On these beginnings of electrophysiology or, more general, bioelectrochemistry, as well as on the developments during the nineteenth century an excellent survey was given by Wilhelm OSTWALD [4].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysical Chemistry Central Institute of Microbiology and Experimental Therapy, Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic, Beutenbergstr. 11, 69, Jena, Germany

    Hermann Berg, Walter Förster & Hans-Egon Jacob

Authors
  1. Hermann Berg
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  2. Walter Förster
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  3. Hans-Egon Jacob
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bioelectrochemical Society, Rome, Italy

    G. Milazzo

  2. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA

    M. Blank

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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York

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Berg, H., Förster, W., Jacob, HE. (1987). Electric Field Effects on Biological Membranes: Electroincorporation and Electrofusion. In: Milazzo, G., Blank, M. (eds) Bioelectrochemistry II. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0951-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0951-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8261-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0951-2

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