Magnetic heterogeneity of biological systems

In biological systems nonuniformity of magnetic susceptibility, magnetic heterogeneity, is a reflection of their physical-chemical and morphological heterogeneity, A characteristic value of heterogeneity is delta K approximately 10(-6)-10(-7) CGS units, a quantitative measurement of susceptibility of cells and other small objects, may give qualitatively new information about their life processes. Patterns and features of movement of small biological objects and liquids affected by magnetic forces were studied. A method was developed for measuring magnetic susceptibility of single microobjects based on observation of movement of the objects in a strong heterogeneous field with parameters (formula: see text) grad H2/2 approximately 10(9)-10(10) Oe2/cm. This method does not require knowing the distribution of the field along the path of movement of the particles, and does not require preliminary calibration. Movement of human erythrocytes, rat hepatocytes, and starch granules in liquids at a point of entry into a gap with the field was observed experimentally. With sufficiently large fields Ho approximately (1-2) x 10(4) Oe, the value of the magnetic force was enough to change the rate of sedimentation movement of the objects appreciably (up to stopping it). This made it possible to compute the value delta K for cells approximately 10(-7)-10(-8) CGS units and to obtain the value of K for starch granules (-0.80 x 10(-6) cGS units). In connection with the fact that sensitivity to gravity in plants is coupled with a disturbance of the intracellular starch granules under the influence of gravity, certain problems of stimulating the effect of gravity on plants by magnetic forces were studied. Noncontact force effect on magnetically heterogeneous biological objects is a promising instrument for biophysical studies.