Calcium spiking activity and baseline calcium levels in ROS 17/2.8 cells exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF).
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields can alter average free cytosolic calcium ion concentrations [Ca2+]i and transient increases in [Ca2+]i in populations of ROS 17/2.8 cells.


METHODS
Cells loaded with the calcium-selective luminescent photoprotein, aequorin, were placed in the bottom of a sample chamber, which was inserted into the gap of a previously described air gap reactor system where they were exposed either to sinusoidal magnetic fields at a variety of frequencies and flux densities or to sham conditions. Real-time recordings of photon counts due to aequorin luminescence were obtained and data were analysed with the use of probit plots.


RESULTS
Probit plots of data obtained from cells exposed to the various magnetic fields were virtually superimposable over the data obtained for the same cultures during pre- and post-exposure sham or no-field periods.


CONCLUSIONS
These experiments provided no evidence for any effects of ELF EMF, either positive or negative, on either average [Ca2+]i or on transient increases in [Ca2+]i.
Shahidain
R
R
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington 40536, USA.
Mullins
R D
RD
Sisken
J E
JE
D000331:Aequorin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D007477:Ions; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017785:Photons; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D007477:Ions; D000331:Aequorin; D002118:Calcium