Method for seeing pore movements in cells

1999/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia

The exchanges between cells and a half are produced through the pores that the cell has, but with the microscopic techniques existing so far, these exchanges could not be observed, since the pores open and close very quickly. However, French researchers have developed a method to slow down these movements: cells are placed in a viscous medium and lengthen mechanically.

During stretching the pores expand and due to the viscosity of the medium will close more slowly than normal. An optical microscope allows observing the movements of the pores.