EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT SUBSTANCES ON SPONTANEOUS ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL OSCILLATION ACROSS A LIQUID MEMBRANE OF A WATER VERTICAL-BAR-OCTANOL-VERTICAL-BAR WATER-SYSTEM

Electrical potential oscillation across a liquid membrane of an octanol solution interposed between two water solutions, one containing a surfactant, was measured to examine the effects of biologically important substances on the mode of oscillation. Lipids and drugs caused changes in the amplitude, oscillatory period and induction period of potential oscillation. The changes depended on the type and concentration of lipid and drug was correlated with drug pharmacological activity. The change in the mode of potential oscillation was due to a structural change in the dodecyl sulfate ion layer adsorbed at the octanol/water interface.