Ruifeng Hou

Recording extracellular signals in plants: A modeling and experimental study

a b s t r a c t The purpose of this work was to determine the relationship between intracellular and ex- tracellular potential in plant cells and clarify the characteristic of extracellular measure- ment. Importantly, we aimed to explain the interesting phenomenon that the results using extracellular recording were significantly different from those of many research groups. We proposed a model to describe the relationship between intracellular measurement and extracellular measurement. To verify the model, simulations and experiments were per- formed. In the experiments, intracellular and extracellular recordings were obtained from Vicia faba L. cells using a multi-channel electrophysiological recording system. The exper- imental results indicated that extracellular potential could be calculated using the model and the amplitude of observed signals, and for one cell this was dozens of microvolts, but complex for multi-cells. The spatiotemporal features of extracellular recording were also verified by the experimental results. The model revealed a quantity relationship with the intracellular and extracellular potential of plant cells, and the superposition characteristic was explained.

A THEORY MODEL FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNALS IN PLANT PART I

The ion mechanism for membrane potential of higher plant was discussed in this paper. A modified Hodgkin and Huxley model was developed for description of the electrical signals in plant. Three individual components of ionic current were formulated in terms of Hodgkin and Huxley model. It include potassium current IK, calcium current ICa, and anion current ICl-. It model will provide a useful tool to simulate the electrical activity in cell of higher plants, which respond to environmental changes.