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A role for the magnetic field in the radiation-induced efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Blackman, CF; Benane, SG; Rabinowitz, JR; House, DE; Joines, WT
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics
1985

Two independent laboratories have demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation at specific frequencies can cause a change in the efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro. In a local geomagnetic field (LGF) at a density of 38 microTesla (microT), 15- and 45-Hz electromagnetic signals (40 Vp-p/m in air) have been shown to induce a change in the efflux of calcium ions from the exposed tissues, whereas 1- and 30-Hz signals do not. We now show that the effective 15-Hz signal can be rendered ineffective when the LGF is reduced to 19 microT with Helmholtz coils. In addition, the ineffective 30-Hz signal becomes effective when the LGF is changed to +/- 25.3 microT or to +/- 76 microT. These results demonstrate that the net intensity of the LGF is an important variable. The results appear to describe a resonance-like relationship in which the frequency of the electromagnetic field that can induce a change in efflux is proportional to a product of LGF density and an index, 2n + 1, where n = 0,1. These phenomenological findings may provide a basis for evaluating the apparent lack of reproducibility of biological effects caused by low-intensity extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic signals. In future investigations of this phenomenon, the LGF vector should be explicitly described. If the underlying mechanism involves a general property of tissue, then research conducted in the ambient electromagnetic environment (50/60 Hz) may be subjected to unnoticed and uncontrolled influences, depending on the density of the LGF.

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Published In

Bioelectromagnetics

DOI

ISSN

0197-8462

Publication Date

1985

Volume

6

Issue

4

Start / End Page

327 / 337

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Magnetics
  • Ions
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Chickens
  • Calcium
  • Brain
  • Biophysics
  • Animals
  • 40 Engineering
  • 31 Biological sciences
 

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Blackman, C. F., Benane, S. G., Rabinowitz, J. R., House, D. E., & Joines, W. T. (1985). A role for the magnetic field in the radiation-induced efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics, 6(4), 327–337. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250060402
Blackman, C. F., S. G. Benane, J. R. Rabinowitz, D. E. House, and W. T. Joines. “A role for the magnetic field in the radiation-induced efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro.Bioelectromagnetics 6, no. 4 (1985): 327–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250060402.
Blackman CF, Benane SG, Rabinowitz JR, House DE, Joines WT. A role for the magnetic field in the radiation-induced efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics. 1985;6(4):327–37.
Blackman, C. F., et al. “A role for the magnetic field in the radiation-induced efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro.Bioelectromagnetics, vol. 6, no. 4, 1985, pp. 327–37. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/bem.2250060402.
Blackman CF, Benane SG, Rabinowitz JR, House DE, Joines WT. A role for the magnetic field in the radiation-induced efflux of calcium ions from brain tissue in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics. 1985;6(4):327–337.
Journal cover image

Published In

Bioelectromagnetics

DOI

ISSN

0197-8462

Publication Date

1985

Volume

6

Issue

4

Start / End Page

327 / 337

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Magnetics
  • Ions
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Chickens
  • Calcium
  • Brain
  • Biophysics
  • Animals
  • 40 Engineering
  • 31 Biological sciences