Electrical Resistance of Cell Membranes of Avena coleoptiles

Abstract

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-cm(2) 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.