Membrane properties of cultured cells

Abstract

Intercellular communication is a prerequisite for intact organisms especially during development and differentiation, and occurs as regulation over long distances (hormones), as short distance interactions (synapses) or as direct cell to cell contact. The direct cell contact is enabled by specialized membrane areas, the so called gap junctions, which allow not only the passage of ions (ionic coupling) but also of larger molecules (metabolic cooperation). The identity of these three coupling phenomena was demonstrated with cell cultures, where hormonal or neuronal regulatory processes can be excluded.