Bioelectrorheological model of the cell. 7. Cellular deformation in the presence of cytochalasin B.

The influence of cytochalasin B on the mechanical properties of Neurospora crassa cells subjected to a periodic electric field was investigated. Shear and extensional deformations were considered and studied separately. Conditions were found under which shear deformations become irreversible. Rheological models helped in the interpretation of the results in terms of the different response to the shear stress of the three hypothetical supramolecular regions of the membrane-skeleton network (F, S and 0). Rheological parameters for the above regions related to the proposed models were calculated. The models were satisfactorily fitted to the experimental results. The influence of cytochalasin B on the course of extensional deformation of cells was investigated and characterized semiquantitatively.