Mechanism of human blood neutrophil activation by electric field pulses

: High voltage electric field pulses, was shown previously, induced activation of blood neutrophil respiratory burst, registered as increase in luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of cell suspension. The quantitative analysis of this phenomenon by fluorescent probes and radioisotope methods have shown that electric pulse induced neutrophil chemiluminescence is a result of Ca2+ ions entering the cells through reversible pores in plasma membrane. Electric pulse of amplitude 5 kV/cm generates two tens of reversible pores with average diameter nearly 2 nm and lifetime 1 minute. Total amount of calcium penetrating at this conditions from the medium (1 mM Ca2+) into the cells was as high as 1.2 fmole/cell that is nearly 3.6 mM concentration per cell volume. Whereas the increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of free calcium did not exceed 1.3 microM, that is more then 3 order less. Data presented is discussed with relation to possible biological role of electroporation by natural electric fields presented in living systems.