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Evidence for direct effect of magnetic fields on neurite outgrowth
Author(s) -
Blackman Carl F.,
Benane Shawnee G.,
House Dennis E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.7.9.8330687
Subject(s) - neurite , neuroscience , biology , genetics , in vitro
Electric fields can cause changes in cell responses both in vitro and in vivo. Alternating magnetic fields have been proposed to act through the electric fields induced in the conducting medium surrounding the cells. We have used a simple exposure system to test the relative contribution of magnetic fields compared to induced electric fields in a standard PC‐12 cell culture assay, in which cells respond to nerve growth factor by producing neurites. This response to stimulation by nerve growth factor is inhibited by sinusoidal, 50‐Hz magnetic fields at field strengths below 10 μT (100 mG). A standard procedure to distinguish magnetic‐ vs. electric‐field effects demonstrates that the induced electric field is not involved. Additional work is necessary to identify the critical reaction site (or sites), and to establish the molecular mechanisms responsible for these results.—Blackman, C. F., Benane, S. G., House, D. E. Evidence for direct effect of magnetic fields on neurite outgrowth. FASEB J. 7: 801‐806; 1993.