| Abstract: | The membrane potentials of human embryonic lung fibroblasts have been measured in different cellular environments. Sparse cells on plastic have a mean membrane potential of ?8.5 mV. As the cells progress to dense culture, the mean membrane potential rises to ?14.7 mV. The mean membrane potential of fibroblasts in human embryonic lung fragments by comparison was found to be ?16.5 mV. Sparse cells on collagen, at the same density as the sparse cells on plastic, have mean membrane potentials of ?10.8 mV. Sparse cells on plastic migrating from dense cellular areas, following a cut being made in a thick sheet of cells, have mean membrane potentials of ?5.9 mV. The significance of these results in relation to cellular environments has been discussed. |
