Electrical Resistance of Cell Membranes of Avena coleoptiles

Abstract
The cell membrane resistance to direct current was measured in single cells for the first time in a higher plant tissue, oat coleoptiles ( Avena sativa ). On the assumption that the current density over the cell surface was uniform, a mean value of about 1300 ohm-cm 2 was found for cells in an external nutrient medium containing 1 mmole each of K + , Na + , and Ca ++ per liter. As expected, either decreasing K + concentration or increasing Ca ++ concentration increased the resistance.