At the cellular level, ultrasound can cause micro streaming that increases what?

At the cellular level, ultrasound can cause micro streaming that increases what?

• A. Permeability of cell membranes
• B. Cell proliferation rate
• C. DNA mutation rate
• D. Protein synthesis rate

Answer: (A)

Micro streaming from ultrasound produces shear forces at the cell surface that temporarily disrupt the lipid bilayer, creating short-lived pores. This transient poration increases the permeability of the cell membrane, allowing molecules to pass more readily into or out of the cell—a mechanism often exploited for targeted drug or gene delivery. The other options aren’t the immediate result of micro streaming, as this mechanical effect mainly alters membrane permeability rather than directly driving proliferation, DNA mutations, or protein synthesis.

Micro streaming from ultrasound produces shear forces at the cell surface that temporarily disrupt the lipid bilayer, creating short-lived pores. This transient poration increases the permeability of the cell membrane, allowing molecules to pass more readily into or out of the cell—a mechanism often exploited for targeted drug or gene delivery. The other options aren’t the immediate result of micro streaming, as this mechanical effect mainly alters membrane permeability rather than directly driving proliferation, DNA mutations, or protein synthesis.