title: Action of 50 Hz magnetic fields on cyclic AMP and intercellular communication in monolayers and spheroids of mammalian cells.
abstract: To investigate the influence of physiological parameters such as cell density and three-dimensional cell contact on the biological action of a 2 mT/50 Hz magnetic field, mouse fibroblasts were exposed as monolayers and as multicellular spheroids. Changes in cyclic AMP content of cells and alterations in gap junction-mediated intercellular communication were measured immediately after 5 min of exposure to the field. In monolayers of intermediate cell density (1 x 10(5) cells/cm2), the field treatment caused an increase in cAMP to 121% of the control level, whereas, at 3 x 10(5) cells/cm2 (near confluence), a decrease to 88% of the unexposed cells was observed. Furthermore, field exposure stimulated gap-junction communication to 160% of the control level as determined by Lucifer yellow dye exchange. In spheroids, alterations in the radial profile of cellular cAMP were observed that were due both to field-induced local cAMP changes and to increased gap-junction permeability for this second messenger, the latter causing radial cAMP gradients to be flattened. The results indicate a strong dependence of field action on physiological parameters of the system exposed.
authors.affiliation: Research Center Karlsruhe, Institute of Toxicology, Karlsruhe, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schimmelpfeng
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dertinger
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D002452:Cell Count; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D008280:Magnetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP