To obtain a method by which the oil-and-fat content of a microbic cell, such as filamentous fungi, yeast, etc., can be measured quickly and easily.
A method for measuring the content of oil and fat existing in a cell which is surrounded by a cell membrane composed of an insulating membrane and filled up with a cytoplasmic matrix of an electrolytic solution includes a step of measuring the dielectric relaxation frequency of the suspension system of the cell or electric conductivity of the cytoplasmic matrix, a step of pre-finding a calibration curve indicating the relation between the oil-and-fat content and dielectric relaxation frequency of the cell or the relation between the oil-and-fat content and electric conductivity of the cell, and a step of finding the oil-and-fat content corresponding to the measured dielectric relaxation frequency or electric conductivity from the found calibration curve.
YONEZAWA TAKASHI
ASAMI KOJI
