Bistability of Membrane Conductance in Cell Adhesion Observed in a Neuron Transistor

We attached individual nerve cells from leech ganglia to oxidized silicon using polylysine. We studied the electrical current through the cell membrane in the region of adhesion taking advantage of field-effect transistors integrated in the substrate. We found that a minute mechanical deformation of the cell triggered a bistable reversible switching of the attached membrane between states of high and low conductance. Feasible mechanisms of the nonlinear effect are discussed.