Nanosecond pulsed electric field stimulation of reactive oxygen species in human pancreatic cancer cells is Ca2+-dependent

The cellular response to 100 ns pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) exposure includes the formation of transient nanopores in the plasma membrane and organelle membranes, an immediate increase in intracellular Ca2+, an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation and caspase activation. 100 ns, 30 kV/cm nsPEF stimulates an increase in ROS proportional to the pulse number. This increase is inhibited by the anti-oxidant, Trolox, as well as the presence of Ca2+ chelators in the intracellular and extracellular media. This suggests that the nsPEF-triggered Ca2+ increase is required for ROS generation.