Magnetic fields alter electrical properties of solutions and their physiological effects

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Neurophysiology
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Static magnetic fields (SMFs) are increasingly studied for their potential effects on biological systems.
• Understanding how SMFs influence the physicochemical properties of solutions and cellular functions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of static magnetic fields (SMFs) on calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions and snail physiological solutions.
• To examine the physicochemical changes in CaCl2 solutions and the biological consequences on Helix pomatia neurons.

Main Methods:

• Exposure of CaCl2 and snail physiological salt solutions to static magnetic fields ranging from 2.3 to 350 mT.
• Measurement of electrical conductivity changes in CaCl2 solutions.
• Assessment of cellular functions in Helix pomatia ganglia and isolated neurons perfused with SMF-exposed physiological solutions.

Main Results:

• SMFs induced field-dependent changes in the electrical conductivity of CaCl2 solutions, varying with concentration and field intensity.
• These conductivity changes persisted for over an hour post-exposure.
• While SMFs did not alter the conductivity of physiological solutions, significant biological effects were observed in snail neurons, including membrane depolarization, increased action potential discharge, reduced calcium uptake, altered cyclic nucleotide content, and increased cell body volume.

Conclusions:

• Static magnetic fields can alter the physicochemical properties of solutions and induce significant biological effects.
• A potential mechanism involves changes in calcium ion hydration, leading to functional consequences in neuronal cells.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms of SMF-induced biological effects.