title: Influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on the swimming behavior of ciliates.
abstract: Different species of ciliates (Paramecium biaurelia, Loxodes striatus, Tetrahymena thermophila) have been taken as model systems to study the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (50 Hz, 0.5-2.0 mT) on the cellular level. A dose-dependent increase in the mean swimming velocity and a decrease in the linearity of cell tracks were observed in all wild-type cells. In contrast, field-exposure did not increase the number of directional turns of the Paramecium tetraurelia pawn mutant (d4-500r), which is characterized by defective Ca2+-channels. The described changes indicate a direct effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields on the transport mechanisms of the cell membrane for ions controlling the motile activity of cilia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aerospace Medicine, DLR (German Aerospace Research Establishment), Köln. Ruth.Hemmersbach@DLR.DE
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemmersbach
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stockem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000502:physiology*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009068:Movement; D009154:Mutation; D010247:Paramecium / Q000502:physiology; D016805:Paramecium tetraurelia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels