Bone adapts to its environment by a process in which osteoblasts and osteocytes sense applied mechanical strain. One possible pathway for the detection of strain involves mechanosensitive channels and we sought to determine their sensitivity to membrane strain and tension. We used a combination of experimental and computational modeling techniques to gain new insights into cell mechanics and th...

In response to engagement of surface molecules, cells generate active forces that regulate many cellular processes. Developing tools that permit gathering mechanical and morphological information on these forces is of the utmost importance. Here we describe a new technique, the micropipette force probe, that uses a micropipette as a flexible cantilever that can aspirate at its tip a bead that i...

In this study we report a physical analysis of the membrane mechanics affecting the size of the highly curved region of a lipid nanotube (LNT) that is either connected between a lipid bilayer vesicle and the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (tube-only) or between a lipid bilayer vesicle and a vesicle that is attached to the tip of a glass microinjection pipette (two-vesicle). For the tube-...

Reduction and nanoparticle nucleation of Cu2+ by decamethylferrocene was studied with cyclic square-wave voltammetry at a microscale liquid–liquid interface established the tip micropipette. With voltammetry, two reduction steps could be distinguished as separate current waves. Comparing experimental results finite element method simulations, particle growth observed an increasing limiting curr...

Glass micropipettes are widely used to record neural activity from single neurons or clusters of neurons extracellularly in live animals. However, to date, there has been no comprehensive study of noise in extracellular recordings with glass micropipettes. The purpose of this work was to assess various noise sources that affect extracellular recordings and to create model systems in which novel...

In fifty-seven resting nerve fibers of the squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea impaled from outside to inside, three potential difference (PD) levels were recorded. In twelve nerve fibers the position of the tip of the micropipette, when it was recording one of the PD levels, was labeled with carmine, and the minute spot of dye was localized histologically. The first PD level of -10 to -26 mv, was loc...

The interaction between the outer hair cell (OHC) lateral wall plasma membrane and the underlying cortical lattice was examined by a morphometric analysis of cell images during cell deformation. Vesiculation of the plasma membrane was produced by micropipette aspiration in control cells and cells exposed to ionic amphipaths that alter membrane mechanics. An increase of total cell and vesicle su...

The electrical potential profile of the isolated toad skin was recorded, in vitro, by impalement with micropipette-electrodes, when both sides of the skin were bathed with sulfate-Ringer. The outer side of the skin was some 110 mv negative with respect to the inner side. Upon impalement from the outer side, two main positive steps of 40 to 70 mv each were found to form the skin potential. The s...

Understanding the physical properties of the cell nucleus is critical for developing a deeper understanding of nuclear structure and organization as well as how mechanical forces induce changes in gene expression. We use micropipette aspiration to induce large, local deformations in the nucleus, and microscopy to image nuclear shape as well as the response of fluorescently labeled components in...

Changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration were directly measured in the rat cerebellum, using an ion-selective micropipette. Extracellular K+ was measured simultaneously with a second ion-selective micropipette. The potential reference barrels of the ion electrodes also provided fast field and slow potentials. During repetitive stimulation of the parallel fiber--Purkinje cell cerebellar circu...