Synaptosome behaviour is unaffected by weak pulsed electromagnetic fields.
The present study examined the effect on rat cortical synaptosomes of a 2 h exposure to 50-Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) with a peak magnetic field of 2 mT. We measured modifications of synaptosomal mitochondrial respiration rate, ATP production, membrane potential, intrasynaptosomal Ca(2+) concentration and free iron release. The O(2) consumption remained unvaried in exposed synaptosomes at about 2 nM O(2)/min/mg proteins; ATP production was also unchanged. The intrasynaptosomal Ca(2+) concentration decreased slowly and there was a slight, but non-significant, depolarisation of the synaptosomal membrane. Finally, the free iron release by synaptosomal suspensions, a useful predictor of neuro-developmental outcome, remained unchanged after EMF exposure. On the whole, our results indicate that the physiological behaviour of cortical synaptosomes is not affected by weak pulsed EMFs.
Aldinucci
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Department of Physiology, Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Carretta
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A
Maiorca
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S
Rossi
V
V
Ciccoli
L
L
Pessina
G P
GP
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*