ABSTRACT
The fluorescence of a photochromic probe sensitive to membrane potential was used to evaluate the electric field strength of rabbit alveolar macrophages. Flow cytometry permitted the fluorescence detection of large numbers of individual cells pre-loaded with the probe. Tannin was capable of producing rapid and dose-related negative shifts in emission intensity corresponding to depolarization of the cell membrane. This finding indicates that an early effect of tannin on alveolar macrophages is the rapid depolarization of the plasma membrane.
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