A comparative study of permeabilization induced by extracellular ATP and by Sendai virus

Both Sendai virus and extracellular ATP induce membrane changes in 3T6 cells which allow passage of phosphorylated metabolites and normally impermeant aqueous solutes. The two processes share many features in common, including their kinetics and the effects of temperature, Ca²⁺, and various metabolic inhibitors. Furthermore, in each case permeabilization is preceded by net changes in intracellular cations. However, there are significant differences in that only ATP-dependent permeabilization is influenced by changes in the ionic strength of the medium, by inhibition of the Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^- cotransporter and by preincubation of 3T6 cells with dithiothreitol.