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On the mechanism of a 60-Hz electric field induced growth reduction of mammalian cellsin vitro

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Abstract

Data on 60-Hz electric field (EF) induced reduction in growth rate of plant roots have strongly supported the hypothesis that the effect is related to an EF-induced transmembrane potential (V i m). An investigation was undertaken to determine if this hypothesis is also applicable to 60-Hz EF-induced reductions in growth rate of mammalian cells in vitro. Human lymphoblastic (RPMI 1788) and human carcinoma (HeLa) cells were selected for study, the former having a relatively small diameter (11.2 μm), and the latter having a relatively large diameter (15.4 μtm). The 60-Hz EFs ranged from 430–1200 V/m in the culture medium. The growth rate of RPMI 1788 cells after 4-days was depressed by about 42% at a 60-Hz EF of 1000–1200 V/m with a response threshold occurring at 950 V/m; theV i m at the response threshold was 8 mV There was no 60-Hz EF-induced effect on HeLa cell growth rate of aV i m of 8 mV (60-Hz EF=700 V/m); a statistically significant effect was achieved atV i m of 11 mV (950 V/m). The data support the hypothesis that above a threshold 60-Hz EF,V i m acts as the initial signal leading to growth rate reductions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Division of Biostatistics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Rochester, 14642, Rochester, NY, USA

    Mitra Azadniv, Morton W. Miller & Christopher Cox

  2. Department of Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 13210, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Fredrick Valentine

Authors
  1. Mitra Azadniv
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  2. Morton W. Miller
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  3. Christopher Cox
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  4. Fredrick Valentine
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Azadniv, M., Miller, M.W., Cox, C. et al. On the mechanism of a 60-Hz electric field induced growth reduction of mammalian cellsin vitro . Radiat Environ Biophys 32, 73–83 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01213133

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01213133

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