Influence of the 51Cr-EDTA injection on electrical properties of the tissue and electroporation outcome

When cells are exposed to high intensity pulses of an electric field, a transmembrane voltage is induced, causing formation of pores in the membrane and leading to increased membrane permeability. Permeabilizing electric pulses can be used for in vivo introduction of nonpermeant molecules into cells of tissues. Injection of fluid carrying the nonpermeant molecules in the tissue encompassed by the electrodes just before applying electrical pulses can however change electrical properties of the tissue and thus influences the electroporation outcome. In this study electrical current during the pulses have been investigated to determine whether or not a previous injection of fluid affects tissue conductance. In 43 experiments no fluid was injected and in 14 experiments 100 μ l of fluid carrying hydrophilic molecules 51Cr-EDTA was injected in rabbit liver before applying electrical pulses. Liver conductance increased in average for 9% when fluid was injected, while homogeneously distributed fluid does not affect the electric field distribution. Reported increase of conductance does not influence induced transmembrane voltage, therefore, 51 Cr-EDTA injection does not influence the electroporation outcomeVytauto Didžiojo universiteta