title: Leukemic cell intracellular responses to nanosecond electric fields.
abstract: Intense, nanosecond (ns) pulsed electric fields (PEFs) are known to affect the intracellular structures of cells. The probability of preferentially inducing subcellular effects increases with decreasing pulse length while effects on the plasma membrane are diminished. This has been demonstrated by applying electrical pulses of 60 and 10 ns duration with electric field intensities of up to 6.5 MV/m to HL-60 cells. Using confocal microscopy, PEF-induced changes in the integrity of the plasma membrane and nucleus were measured by recording fluorescence changes with propidium iodide (PI) and acridine orange (AO), respectively. Results suggest that high voltage, nsPEFs target the nucleus and modify cellular functions while plasma membrane effects are delayed and become smaller as pulse duration is shortened. Cell viability was not affected by these pulses. In spite of the high pulsed electric fields, thermal effects can be neglected because of the ultrashort pulse duration. The results suggest application of this ultrashort pulse technology to modulate nuclear structure and function for potential therapeutic benefit.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23510, USA. n_ychen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nianyong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Karl H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schoenbach
authors.forename: Juergen F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: James Swanson
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ravindra P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000528:radiation effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000502:physiology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011724:Pyridazines; C009978:propildazine