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Science 27 March 1964:
Vol. 143. no. 3613, pp. 1448 - 1449
DOI: 10.1126/science.143.3613.1448
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Articles

Electrical Resistance of Cell Membranes of Avena coleoptiles

N. Higinbotham 1, A. B. Hope 1, and G. P. Findlay 1

1 Plant Physiology Unit, Division of Food Preservation, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, and School of Biological Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

The cell membrane resistance to direct current was measured in single cells for the first time in a higher plant tissue, oat coleoptiles (Avena sativa). On the assumption that the current density over the cell surface was uniform, a mean value of about 1300 ohm-cm2 was found for cells in an external nutrient medium containing 1 mmole each of K+, Na+, and Ca++ per liter. As expected, either decreasing K+ concentration or increasing Ca++ concentration increased the resistance.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)