ESR detection of 1O2 reveals enhanced redox activity in illuminated cell cultures

Low-energy visible light (LEVL) has previously been found to modulate various processes in different biological systems. One explanation for the stimulatory effect of LEVL is light-induced reactive oxygen species formation. In the present study, both sperm and skin cells were illuminated with LEVL and were found to generate singlet oxygen (1O2). The detection of 1O2 was performed using a trapping probe, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone, coupled with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, we have shown that, together with O2 generation, LEVL illumination increases the reductive capacity of the cells, which explains the difficulties encountered in 1O2 detection. The potential of visible light to change the cellular redox state may explain the recently observed biostimulative effects exerted by LEVL.