Abstract
Using a specially designed phase-contrast light microscope with an infrared spot illuminator we found that approximately 25% of 3T3 cells were able to extend pseudopodia towards single microscopic infrared light sources nearby. If the cells were offered a pair of such light sources next to each other, 47% of the cells extended towards them. In the latter case 30% of the responding cells extended separate pseudopodia towards each individual light source of a pair. The strongest responses were observed if the infrared light sources emitted light of wavelengths in the range of 800-900 nm intermittently at rates of 30-60 pulses per min. The temperature increases of the irradiated spots can be shown to be negligible. The results suggest that the cells are able to sense specific infrared wavelengths and to determine the direction of individual sources.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.2 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Albrecht-Buehler G. Does the geometric design of centrioles imply their function? Cell Motil. 1981;1(2):237–245. doi: 10.1002/cm.970010206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Albrecht-Buehler G. Is cytoplasm intelligent too? Cell Muscle Motil. 1985;6:1–21. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4757-4723-2_1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Albrecht-Buehler G., Lancaster R. M. A quantitative description of the extension and retraction of surface protrusions in spreading 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. J Cell Biol. 1976 Nov;71(2):370–382. doi: 10.1083/jcb.71.2.370. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bray D. Mechanical tension produced by nerve cells in tissue culture. J Cell Sci. 1979 Jun;37:391–410. doi: 10.1242/jcs.37.1.391. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bullock T. H., Cowles R. B. Physiology of an Infrared Receptor: The Facial Pit of Pit Vipers. Science. 1952 May 16;115(2994):541–543. doi: 10.1126/science.115.2994.541-a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chen W. T. Mechanism of retraction of the trailing edge during fibroblast movement. J Cell Biol. 1981 Jul;90(1):187–200. doi: 10.1083/jcb.90.1.187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zand M. S., Albrecht-Buehler G. Long-term observation of cultured cells by interference-reflection microscopy: near-infrared illumination and Y-contrast image processing. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 1989;13(2):94–103. doi: 10.1002/cm.970130204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]