title: 60 Hz electric field changes the membrane potential during burst phase in pancreatic β-cells: in silico analysis.
abstract: The production, distribution and use of electricity can generate low frequency electric and magnetic fields (50-60 Hz). Considering that some studies showed adverse effects on pancreatic β-cells exposed to these fields; the present study aimed to analyze the effects of 60 Hz electric fields on membrane potential during the silent and burst phases in pancreatic β-cells using a mathematical model. Sinusoidal 60 Hz electric fields with amplitude ranging from 0.5 to 4 mV were applied on pancreatic β-cells model. The sinusoidal electric field changed burst duration, inter-burst intervals (silent phase) and spike sizes. The parameters above presented dose-dependent response with the voltage amplitude applied. In conclusion, theoretical analyses showed that a 60 Hz electric field with low amplitudes changes the membrane potential in pancreatic β-cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theoretical, Computational and Experimental Biophysics, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gesilda F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: José R F
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Renato B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Thiago S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Bruno M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Tenorio
authors.forename: Romildo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004560:Electricity; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials