Objective    To investigate the possible mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway in ovarian cancer cells induced by high intensity electric pulses.     Methods    Human ovarian cancer models were established in nude mice by transplanting SKOV

3

cells

and then the tumors were exposed to high intensity electric pulses (through 2 electrodes

with voltage 1 kV

frequency 1 kHz

pulse width 250 ns for 1 min). The mice were sacrificed immediately after the exposure

then the mass was taken out for mitochondria extraction. The expression of cytochrome C in voltage dependant anion cha

nnel (VDAC) was detected by immuofluorescence assay. Confocal microscope were used to detect Ca

2+

flowing with the aid of Fluo-3/AM staining

and RT-PCR for Bcl-2 mRNA expression.     Results    In experiment group

VDAC was lowered

significantly different with control group (P0.05)

Ca

2+

flowed to mitochondria distinctly (P0.05)

mRNA expression of Bcl-2 fell to (0.15±0.09)

much lower than the control group (P0.05).     Conclusion    High intensity electric pulses can act on mitochondrial membrane

especially on VDAC

and result in the membrane potential falling and transmit intracellular signals

thus leads to the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells.