SOME OF ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CELL MEMBRANE OF CHARA AUSTRALIS

Measurements of the electrical resistance and potential of the cell membranes of Chara australis have been made for over 60 cells. In 17 cases the measurements extended over a period of a few days for each cell. The most important results of these observations and calculations are as follows. The mean value of the intercellular (between cells) resistance is about 1 kΩ cm2. The transcellular (vacuole to external solution) resistance consists of two high-resistance layers. The mean value of the electrical resistance of the outer layer is 7 kΩ cm2. The capacity of the transcellular membrane equals about 2.5 μF cm-2. © 1968 Oxford University Press.