Biophotons as neural communication signals demonstrated by in situ biophoton autography.
Cell to cell communication by biophotons has been demonstrated in plants, bacteria, animal neutrophil granulocytes and kidney cells. Whether such signal communication exists in neural cells is unclear. By developing a new biophoton detection method, called in situ biophoton autography (IBA), we have investigated biophotonic activities in rat spinal nerve roots in vitro. We found that different spectral light stimulation (infrared, red, yellow, blue, green and white) at one end of the spinal sensory or motor nerve roots resulted in a significant increase in the biophotonic activity at the other end. Such effects could be significantly inhibited by procaine (a regional anaesthetic for neural conduction block) or classic metabolic inhibitors, suggesting that light stimulation can generate biophotons that conduct along the neural fibers, probably as neural communication signals. The mechanism of biophotonic conduction along neural fibers may be mediated by protein-protein biophotonic interactions. This study may provide a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of neural communication, the functions of the nervous system, such as vision, learning and memory, as well as the mechanisms of human neurological diseases.
Sun
Yan
Y
Wuhan Institute for Neuroscience and Neuroengineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Minyuan Road 708, Wuhan 430074, China.
Wang
Chao
C
Dai
Jiapei
J
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D017785:Photons; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*