6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Whole Body / GeneralPart of the Glaser Archive

Electrical Properties of Mitochondrial Membranes

Bioeffects Seen

Helmut Pauly, Lester Packer, H. P. Schwan · 1959

Share:

Mitochondria have specific electrical properties that allow them to respond to their electrical environment, establishing baseline understanding for EMF research.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Scientists in 1959 measured the electrical properties of mitochondria (cellular powerhouses) from rat liver cells. They found these tiny structures have specific electrical capacitance values similar to other biological membranes, suggesting common structural features across different cell types.

Why This Matters

This foundational 1959 research established that mitochondria have measurable electrical properties, with membrane capacitance values of 0.5-0.6 microfarads per square centimeter. What makes this significant for EMF research is that it demonstrates how biological structures naturally interact with electrical fields at the cellular level. The study found that swollen mitochondria have an internal ion concentration in proportion to that of the external phase, so they appear able to adjust their internal ion concentration to that of the external medium. This early work laid groundwork for understanding how external electromagnetic fields might influence mitochondrial function. The reality is that mitochondria generate most of our cellular energy through electrical processes, making them potential targets for EMF interference. When you consider that modern EMF exposures can penetrate tissues and reach cellular levels, understanding the baseline electrical properties of these critical organelles becomes essential for evaluating potential health impacts.

Finding

The electrical capacity of the membrane of rat liver mitochondria is 0.5 to 0.6 /F/cm2. This membrane capacity is obtained from the analysis of the frequency dependence of the admittance of a suspension of swollen mitochondria.

In their words

“The electrical capacity of the membrane of rat liver mitochondria is 0.5 to 0.6 /F/cm2. This membrane capacity is obtained from the analysis of the frequency dependence of the admittance of a suspension of swollen mitochondria.”

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

chartPage 2 - Figure 1: Size distribution of rat liver mitochondria after swelling in 0.001 M KCl solution and equilibration in 0.012 M KCl solution (Experiment A) or 0.13 M KCl solution (Experiment B).
p. 2 of the original PDF
diagramPage 3 - Figure 2. Cell for dielectric measurement. For description see text.
p. 3 of the original PDF
graphPage 4 - Figure 3. β-dispersion of swollen rat liver mitochondria.
p. 4 of the original PDF
Cite This Study
Helmut Pauly, Lester Packer, H. P. Schwan (1959). Electrical Properties of Mitochondrial Membranes.
Show BibTeX
@article{electrical_properties_of_mitochondrial_membranes_g4480,
  author = {Helmut Pauly and Lester Packer and H. P. Schwan},
  title = {Electrical Properties of Mitochondrial Membranes},
  year = {1959},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The mitochondrial membrane electrical capacity was measured at 0.5 to 0.6 microfarads per square centimeter. In potassium chloride media the membrane capacity depends on the ion concentration.
Swollen mitochondria have an internal ion concentration in proportion to that of the external phase, so they appear able to adjust their internal ion concentration to that of the external medium. The internal conductance was approximately one-half that of the external medium.
The similarity in membrane capacitance values across different biological membranes suggests a common molecular structure. This indicates that fundamental electrical properties are conserved across various cellular membrane types in biological systems.
The anisotropic (directionally different) electrical behavior results from internal membranes within mitochondria. These internal structures create electrical properties that vary depending on the direction of measurement, reflecting the complex internal organization.
Scientists analyzed the frequency dependence of electrical admittance in suspensions of swollen mitochondria. This technique allowed them to separate membrane capacitance from other electrical properties and determine specific values for mitochondrial membranes.