Biophysical Journal 8: 83-97 (1968)
© 1968 the Biophysical Society

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Elastic-Mathematical Theory of Cells and Mitochondria in Swelling Process

II. Effect of Temperature upon Modulus of Elasticity of Membranous Material of Egg Cells of Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and of Oyster, Crassostrea virginica

ABSTRACT

The elastic behavior of the cell wall as a function of the temperature has been studied with particular attention being given to the swelling of egg cells of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Crassostrea virginica in different sea water concentrations at different temperatures. It was found that the modulus of elasticity is a nonlinear function of temperature. At about 12-13°C the modulus of elasticity (E) is constant, independent of the stress () and strain () which exist at the cell wall; the membranous material follows Hooke's law, and E 3 x 10⁷ dyn/cm² for S. purpuratus and C. virginica. When the temperature is higher or lower than 12-13°C, the modulus of elasticity increases, and the membranous material does not follow Hooke's law, but is almost directly proportional to the stresses existing at the cell wall. On increasing the stress, the function E = E() approaches saturation. The corresponding stress-strain diagrams, = (), and the graphs, E = E() and E = E(t) are given. The cyto-elastic phenomena at the membrane are discussed.