Ion transport through dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) induced transient water pores in cell membranes

Figures & data

Figure 1. Fluorescence imaging of the DMSO-induced increase in intracellular Tl⁺ in CHO-K1 cells. (A) Representative intracellular Tl⁺ fluorescent images at different time points: 98 s, without Tl⁺; 198 s, after addition of 2 mM Tl⁺; 396 s, immediately after application of 4% DMSO; 456 s, Tl⁺ fluorescent intensity approaching the stable level; 600 s, Tl⁺ fluorescent intensity getting stable. (B) Representative raw data traces for time course of fluorescence changes described in (A). (C) Representative traces for DMSO-induced fluorescence changes. The DMSO was applied after obtaining stable Tl⁺ fluorescent level. Scale bar = 20 μm. F.A.U., fluorescence arbitrary unit. This Figure is reproduced in color in the online version of Molecular Membrane Biology.

Figure 2. Dose-dependent effect of DMSO on intracellular Tl⁺ fluorescence changes in CHO-K1 cells. (A) Representative intracellular Tl⁺ fluorescent images upon sequential DMSO exposures at increasing concentration. 180 s: stable fluorescent level before addition of DMSO; 218 s, 530 s, 840 s and 1242 s: Immediately after application of 0.1%, 0.4%, 0.8% and 2% DMSO, respectively; 500 s, 700 s and 1000 s: stable fluorescent level after DMSO application. Inset: Representative image shows membrane blebbing of the CHO cells induced by 2% DMSO. (B) Representative raw data traces for time course of sequential DMSO exposures at increasing concentration on Tl⁺ influx. (C) Statistic summary on relative Tl⁺ fluorescent intensity (F_max/F₀) upon application of different concentrations of DMSO. The number of independent experiments is indicated on the bar figure, while the number of cells used for statistical analysis is shown in the parenthesis. [DMSO], concentration of DMSO (v/v). (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.001; one-way ANOVA). This Figure is reproduced in color in the online version of Molecular Membrane Biology.

Figure 3. Effect of K⁺ channel and Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase blockers on the DMSO-induced increase in Tl⁺ transients. (A) Comparison of the effect of DMSO on relative Tl⁺ fluorescent intensity (F_max/F₀) in the absence and presence of K⁺ channel blocker TEA. (B) Comparison of the effect of DMSO on relative Tl⁺ fluorescent intensity (F_max/F₀) in the absence and presence of Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase blocker ouabain. This Figure is reproduced in color in the online version of Molecular Membrane Biology.

Figure 4. Effect of DMSO on Ca²⁺ influx in CHO-K1 cells. (A) Representative intracellular Ca²⁺ fluorescent images before (228 s) and immediately after (232 s) application of DMSO as well as after fluorescence becoming stable (600 s). (B) Representative raw data traces for time course of Ca²⁺ fluorescence changes. (C) Relative Ca²⁺ fluorescent intensity (F_max/F₀) in the absence and presence of 0.5% DMSO. This Figure is reproduced in color in the online version of Molecular Membrane Biology.

Figure 5. Effect of DMSO on Tl⁺ influx in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. (A) Representative intracellular Tl⁺ fluorescent images upon application of 0.4% and 0.8% DMSO. 280 s: stable fluorescent level before addition of DMSO; 344 s: Immediately after application of 0.4% DMSO, 564s: stable fluorescent level after application of 0.4% DMSO, 648 s: immediately after application of 0.8% DMSO, 726 s: Fluorescent level after application of 0.8% DMSO. (B) Representative raw data traces for time course of Tl⁺ influx upon sequential application of 0.4% and 0.8% DMSO. (C) Statistic summary on relative Tl⁺ fluorescent intensity (F_max/F₀) upon application of 0.4% and 0.8% DMSO (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.001; one-way ANOVA). This Figure is reproduced in color in the online version of Molecular Membrane Biology.