IN VITRO ERYTHROCYTE AGEING IN ZERO MAGNETIC FIELD
D Ciorba*, V.V.Morariu**
*Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Moţilor Street, No 19, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
** National Institute for Research & Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technology,
P.O. Box 700, R 3400, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, e-mail: [email protected]
Purpose:
The natural magnetic field or the geomagnetic field (GMF) is a physical factor of the normal
environment. The natural variations of this field can affect the health of man. Consequently we
may expect that the lack of GMF or zero magnetic field (ZMF) could influence the living
processes as well, possibly even more than the present fluctuations of GMF. At the same time it is
possible that ZMF may have qualitatively different effects compared to the geomagnetic storms,
or at least we may address this question.
The purpose of our work was to investigate the influence of ZMF on several elementary cell
processes after in vitro exposure of human blood to ZMF. We have investigated the alteration of
the Na+-K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase function by measuring the change of the ion concentrations
in the serum as well as the ratio of amino transferase-TGO and alanin amino transferase- TGP
activities.
Methods:
Human blood was collected by venipuncture from apparent healthy donors. After coagulation and
centrifugation, the following assays were performed in the serum, by using a Beckmann CX5
autoanalyzer: sodium, potassium and calcium concentration as well as the activity of TGO and
TGP. The determinations have been performed on samples of blood exposed up to 72 hours at
room temperature, at 24 hours time interval.
Results:
Sodium concentration in the serum steadily decreased in the serum while potassium increased
as a result of the decreased ion pump activity at room temperature. However in ZMF conditions
this process was significantly faster than for controls.
geomagnetic field
zero magnetic field
160
Sodium [mEq/L]
155
150
145
140
135
130
0
1
2
3
Time of exposure [days]
Fig.1 Effect o zero magnetic field exposure on the sodium concentration in blood serum
geomagnetic field
zero magnetic field
5.0
Calcium [mEq/L]
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
0
1
2
3
Time of in vitro ageing [days]
Fig.2 Effect of zero magnetic field exposure on the potassium concentration in the blood
serum
20
geomagnetic field
zero magnetic field
18
Potasium [mEq/L]
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
0
1
2
3
Time of exposure [days]
Fig.3 Effect of zero magnetic field exposure of blood serum on the calcium concentration
At the same time calcium concentration in the serum decreased as a result of penetration into
the blood cells which in turn is possibly due to the lower activity of calcium ATPase induced by
ZMF.
140
120
Ca
Na
Fe
pH
Effect [%]
100
80
60
K
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Ion in serum
Fig. 4 A summary of the effect of zero magnetic field exposure on the rate of change of ion
concentration in the blood serum
the effects are summarized in fig.4 which shows that exposure to zero magnetic field
has relative important effects. Included are also other observations about Fe and pH, which
have not been mentioned in the text. The presence of a relative large quantity of Fe in the
serum represent further evidence for an increased hemolysis which is a consequence of the
ion disturbed balance in erythrocytes.
It has also been found that the TGO/TGP ratio increase by up to 33% after three days
of exposure to ZMF conditions. The faster decrease of TGP activity, suggests that ZMF
caused increased cellular death. This result is in agreement with the above findings related to
the change of ion concentration in the serum due to disturbed balance between serum and
cells.
The whole experiment seem to suggest that the effects represent a result of the
alteration of the enzymes activities both in the cell membranes and within the cell.
Consequently the ion balance is modified such as to increase the rate of cell aging and final
increased hemolysis.
A search of the literature revealed that exposure of enzymes or other proteins to an
abnormal magnetic environment, i.e. different to the geomagnetic field, may alter their
functional role and therefore our results are on similar line.
Conclusions:
In vitro exposure of human blood to zero magnetic field conditions leads to a significant
decrease of the sodium-potassium and calcium ATPase activities as well as of transaminase
activities. This implies that in vitro cell ageing and death proceed faster in ZMF compared to
natural magnetic conditions. The results may be relevant to in vivo exposure of organisms to ZMF
where a similar trend could hold.