Calcium spiking activity and baseline calcium levels in ROS 17/2.8 cells exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF)

Abstract

Purpose : To determine whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields can alter average free cytosolic calcium ion concentrations [Ca 2+ ] i and transient increases in [Ca 2+ ] i in populations of ROS 17/2.8 cells. Materials and methods : Cells loaded with the calcium-selective luminescent photoprotein, aequorin, were placed in the bottom of a sample chamber, which was inserted into the gap of a previously described air gap reactor system where they were exposed either to sinusoidal magnetic fields at a variety of frequencies and flux densities or to sham conditions. Real-time recordings of photon counts due to aequorin luminescence were obtained and data were analysed with the use of probit plots. Results : Probit plots of data obtained from cells exposed to the various magnetic fields were virtually superimposable over the data obtained for the same cultures during pre- and post-exposure sham or no-field periods. Conclusion : These experiments provided no evidence for any effects of ELF EMF, either positive or negative, on either average [Ca 2+ ] i or on transient increases in [Ca 2+ ] i.