Neurotransmitter Release Stimulated in a Clonal Nerve Cell Line by Low Intensity Pulse Magnetic Fields

Abstract

Because of our growing interest in the biological activity of electromagnetic fields (EMF), we have set out to establish a model system for studying their mechanism of action at the molecular level. Although in vitro preparations of bone (1,2) and nerve cells (3–6) have been used, the populations are heterogeneous and direct effects on specific membrane events are difficult to monitor. Isolation of specific cell types has been used for red blood cells (7). Separation of neuronal cells, however, requires elaborate time-consuming techniques which are likely to affect the integrity of the membranes i n the final preparation. Single cell clonal lines of neural crest tumors in culture are likely to be useful, since they express many properties associated with normal mature adrenal chromaffin cells (8–13). Neuroblastoma cells are an example of one such line which is being used for EMF studies (14). Recently, Greene and Tischler developed a more differentiated clonal line, PC12, derived from a rat phaeochromocytoma (12) which also exhibits properties of sympathetic neurones including calcium dependent release of neurotransmitters (8,9,11).