shows the pulsed electric field parameters and the actual
electric field strength (mean ± standard deviation) obtained
in the present study. The actual electric field strength (pulse
peak voltage/distance between electrodes) ranged from 0.28 to
0.51 kV cm−1 for LL muscle and 0.31 to 0.56 kV cm−1 for SM muscle.
The electric field strengthwas affected by the voltage (5 and 10 kV), but
was not affected by the pulse frequency. The application of electric field
has the most crucial effect on the cell membrane by affecting its transmembrane
potential. When the transmembrane potential exceeds
a critical limit, which for animal cells has been reported to be
0.5 kV cm−1 (Töpfl, 2006), electroporation of the cells occurs. Similar
range of actual electric field strength was found with cold-boned beef
LL and SM muscles which were treated with the same PEF intensities