ISSN:
1432-2099
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Data on 60-Hz electric field (EF) induced reduction in growth rate of plant roots have strongly supported the hypothesis that the effect is related to an EF-induced transmembrane potential (V i m). An investigation was undertaken to determine if this hypothesis is also applicable to 60-Hz EF-induced reductions in growth rate of mammalian cells in vitro. Human lymphoblastic (RPMI 1788) and human carcinoma (HeLa) cells were selected for study, the former having a relatively small diameter (11.2 μm), and the latter having a relatively large diameter (15.4 μtm). The 60-Hz EFs ranged from 430–1200 V/m in the culture medium. The growth rate of RPMI 1788 cells after 4-days was depressed by about 42% at a 60-Hz EF of 1000–1200 V/m with a response threshold occurring at 950 V/m; theV i m at the response threshold was 8 mV There was no 60-Hz EF-induced effect on HeLa cell growth rate of aV i m of 8 mV (60-Hz EF=700 V/m); a statistically significant effect was achieved atV i m of 11 mV (950 V/m). The data support the hypothesis that above a threshold 60-Hz EF,V i m acts as the initial signal leading to growth rate reductions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01213133
