Effects of the weak alternating electric field on Na + concentration inside human red blood cells

Abstract

In the present experiment, the NMR technique was employed to detect the sodium ion concentration, using the shift reagent Dy(ppp), to differentiate the chemical shifts of the Na + outside/inside the cells. Sodium ion concentration inside the human red blood cells ([Na +] i) could be remarkably reduced when the cells were exposed to weak alternating electric fields (WEF) of different frequencies. The concentration of Na + inside the cells exposed to the square-wave electric field at the frequency of 100 Hz and the intensity of 20 cm −1 for 30 s was 39.9% lower than the control. [Na +] i was recovered 2 h later after the cells were exposed to the electric field. The effects of WEF on the activity of microsome (Na +, K +)ATPase displayed two-way properties depending on the applied frequency of WEF.