title: Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and heat shock can increase microvesicle motility in astrocytes.
abstract: The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) on microvesicles was examined in rat astrocytes by video-enhanced microscopy in combination with a perfusable cell chamber. The EMF effect was compared with the effect of heat shock (HS) and with a combination of them both. The velocity of microvesicles was measured using image processing software (NIH Scion image 1.61). After exposure of astrocytes to EMF (50 Hz, 100microT, 1 h), the velocity of microvesicles in astrocytes increased from 0.32 +/- 0.03 microm/s (n = 120, 95% CI) in the untreated control group to 0.41 +/- 0.03 microm/s (n = 175, 95% CI). Fifteen minutes after HS (45 degrees C, 10 min) the microvesicles showed a velocity of 0.56 +/- 0.03 microm/s (n = 125, 95% CI). Combination of HS and EMF led to an increase in velocity up to 0.54 +/- 0.03 microm/s (n = 110, 95% CI). No significant difference between HS and HS+EMF was found. Compared to the untreated control group, the increased microvesicle velocity of the exposed cells might be a stress response of the cell. It is possibly a sign of intensified intracellular traffic required to adjust the metabolic needs.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie, Medizinische Fakultät, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gölfert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thümmler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Funk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000502:physiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats