INTERCELLULAR ELECTRICAL COUPLING AT A FORMING MEMBRANE JUNCTION IN A DIVIDING CELL

Abstract

Ion communication between the halves (blastomere) of a dividing cell (Asterias forbesi egg), as determined electrically, diminishes progressively during division as a cell membrane junction forms at the plane of cleavage. Virtually all communication is lost towards the end of division by the time the first intercellular space becomes continuous with the exterior. Resting membrane potentials in both cell halves are essentially equal and constant throughout division.