[Induction of chemiluminescence of peritoneal exudate macrophages after exposure to an electric field]. / Induktsiia khemiliuminestsentsii makrofagov peritoneal'nogo ékssudata pod deistviem élektricheskogo polia.

The effect of the external high voltage electric field pulses on the suspension of rat peritoneal phagocytes has been investigated using chemiluminescent and turbodimetric methods. Single electric field pulses were found to activate macrophages, which was accompanied by a "flash" of chemiluminescence. Subthreshold electric field strength up to 0.8 kV/cm failed to alter macrophage activity. Maximum activation was observed at 2.2 kV/cm; with higher electric field intensity the effect diminished to zero. Drastic changes in light-scattering suspension properties at high electric field intensity indicate irreversible alterations of the barrier function of phagocyte membranes.