Electric Field Exposure Activates Immunocytes: Evidence for Calcium Dependency

Abstract

The controversy concerning the health effects of electric field exposure, such as electromagnetic radiation (EMF), exists because of the apparent subtle effects it may cause on living tissues and organisms as noted by the inconclusive results of many investigations. Rather than follow the traditional approach of studying whole-body systems, we have examined the acute effect of electric field exposure on the immunocytes of Mytilus edulis. The results show that an in vitro electric field produced by direct current can enhance immunocyte activation and conformational change followed by locomotion, whereas repeated continuous exposure results in eventual death. EMF appears to enhance membrane permeability to calcium, which can be prevented in low electric fields by the calcium channel antagonist nimopidine. Since nimopidine protects the cells from EMF, it suggests that this form of radiation causes cell death by inducing the influx of calcium.