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. 1984 Jan;81(1):160–164. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.1.160

Perpendicular orientation and directional migration of amphibian neural crest cells in dc electrical fields.

M S Cooper, R E Keller
PMCID: PMC344630  PMID: 6582473

Abstract

The behavior of cultured neural crest cells of Ambystoma mexicanum and Xenopus laevis in dc electrical fields was studied. In fields of 1-5 V/cm, isolated or confluent cells retract both their anode- and cathode-facing margins. Subsequently, the cells elongate, with protrusive activity confined to their narrow ends. In larger fields (greater than or equal to 5 V/cm), protrusions form on the cathode-facing sides of the perpendicularly oriented cells. The cells then begin migrating laterally, perpendicular to their long axes, towards the cathode. We suggest that the perpendicular alignment and cathode-directed migrations result from cytoskeletal changes mediated by modified ion fluxes through the anode-facing (hyperpolarized) and cathode-facing (depolarized) cell membranes. The breaking of cellular confluence in response to dc electric fields is also discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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