Evaluation of mechanical response of oocyte against the pipette insertion using QCR force sensor

Abstract

This paper proposed a cantilever-type QCR force sensor for force measurement at the time of pipette insertion into the oocyte. QCR force sensor has high sensitivity and high rigidity and is suitable for measuring minute forces. We succeed in measuring force change in the insertion of a sharp pipette into the Xenopus oocyte. There was a difference in the change in force level depend on the diameter of the pipette. When the diameter of the pipette tip was large, we could observe a force increase caused by the contact between the pipette and oocyte and a rapid decrease in force due to penetration of the cell membrane. Quantitative evaluation was investigated.