CHANNELS, RECEPTORS, AND ELECTRICAL SIGNALING |
Real time control of neutrophil metabolism by very weak
ultra-low frequency pulsed magnetic fields
Allen Jay Rosenspire 1*, Andrei Kindzelskii 2, Bruce Simon 3 and Howard Petty 2
1 Wayne State University
2 University of Michigan
3 EBI, LP
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: arosensp{at}sun.science.wayne.edu.
Submitted on November 19, 2004
Revised on January 17, 2005
Accepted on 22 February 2005
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Abstract |
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In adherent and polarized neutrophils NAD(P)H concentration, flavoprotein redox potential, and production of ROM and NO are all periodic and exhibit defined phase relationships to an underlying metabolic oscillation of approximately 20 seconds. Utilizing fluorescence microscopy, we have shown in real time on the single cell level that the system is sensitive to externally applied periodically pulsed weak magnetic fields matched in frequency to the metabolic oscillation. Depending upon the phase relationship of the magnetic pulses to the metabolic oscillation, the magnetic pulses serve to either enhance the amplitude of the NAD(P)H and flavoprotein oscillations, and the level of ROM and NO produced, or alternatively collapse the metabolic oscillations and curtail ROM and NO production. Significantly, we demonstrate that the cells do not directly respond to the magnetic fields, but rather are sensitive to the electric fields which the pulsed magnetic fields induce. We estimate that the threshold which induced electric fields must attain in order to influence cell metabolism is of the order of 10 exp-4 V/m.
Key Words:
ELF, ULF, electromagnetic field, fluorescence, non-thermal
