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Application of direct current electric fields to cells and tissues in vitro and modulation of wound electric field in vivo

Nature Protocols volume 2, pages 1479–1489 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

It has long been known that cells can be induced to migrate by the application of small d.c. electric fields (EFs), a phenomenon referred to as galvanotaxis. We recently reported some significant effects of electric signals of physiological strength in guiding cell migration and wound healing. We present here protocols to apply an EF to cells or tissues cultured in an electrotactic chamber. The chamber can be built to allow controlled medium flow to prevent the potential development of chemical gradients generated by the EFs. It can accommodate cells on planar culture or tissues in 3D gels. Mounted on an inverted microscope, this setup allows close and well-controlled observation of cellular responses to electric signals. As similar EFs are widely present during development and wound healing, this experimental system can be used to simulate and study cellular and molecular responses to electric signals in these events.

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Figure 1: Electrotactic chamber.
Figure 2: Electrotactic chamber assembly on the microscope stage.
Figure 3: Stable pH is maintained in various conditions for approximately 4 h in an electric field (EF) and much longer in CO2-independent medium.
Figure 4: Stable temperature is maintained in various conditions during electric field (EF) treatment.
Figure 5: Stable calcium level is maintained in various conditions during electric field (EF) treatment.
Figure 6: Schematic drawings illustrate the patterns of current flow resulting from applied fields in complex 3D tissues.
Figure 7: Directional angiogenesis was controlled by a small applied electric field (EF) in the 3D electrotactic chamber.
Figure 8: Pharmacological modulation of endogenous wound electric field (EF).
Figure 9: Schematic drawing illustrating the cross-action between endogenous electric field (EF) and applied EF.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust, UK. We thank Dr. Vic Small, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, for reading and commenting on the manuscript.

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  1. School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Bing Song, Yu Gu, Jin Pu, Brian Reid, Zhiqiang Zhao & Min Zhao

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Correspondence to Bing Song or Min Zhao.

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Song, B., Gu, Y., Pu, J. et al. Application of direct current electric fields to cells and tissues in vitro and modulation of wound electric field in vivo. Nat Protoc 2, 1479–1489 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.205

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