Impedance measurements of charge propagation in BC3H-1 myocytes grown directly on a semiconductor electrode: Effect of insulin and vanadate

A method was developed for measuring ion flux by impedance using a semiconductor electrode (indium oxide) on which BC3H-1 myocytes are grown to monolayer. An indium oxide/BC3H-1 assembly in a Tris buffer system was used as a working electrode in AC impedance experiments in a frequency range of 10 kHz-100 mHz. Insulin (10 μU/ml) decreased the resistance of BC3H-1 myocytes by 38.7% compared to the control. Greater concentrations of insulin rapidly decreased the resistance to a plateau of 67% at the physiologic concentration of 100 μU/ml insulin. Vanadate ions produced a similar dose dependent response. Vanadate (1.0 mM) decreased the resistance by 21.6% and greater concentrations rapidly decreased the resistance to a plateau of 57.8% at 10 mM.