Investigation of the Biological Effects of Pulsed Electrical Fields.
Abstract
The investigation of the effects of pulsed electrical fields on mammalian erythrocytes indicates that such fields produce transient pores or channels in the cell membrane as evidenced by the release of intercellular potassium ions and hemoglobin (and perhaps other intracellullar protein molecules). The release has been found to be strongly dependent upon the duration of the electric field pulse as well as the amplitude of the electric field. Significant intracellular potassium release occurs under exposure conditions that do not result in release of protein molecules, suggesting that the size of the induced pore is dependent upon the induced field strength and the duration of the field. The mechanism of dielectric breakdown of cell membranes does not adequately account for these results. The results of studies of the relationship of field strength and pulse duration for the rupture of an artificial bilayer lipid membrane (oxidized cholesterol) indicate a dependency on the pulse duration that is consistent with the effects upon cell membrane permeability. The in vivo studies have involved the exposure to Dutch rabbits to repetitively pulsed electromagnetic fields in an EMP simulator. Such exposure has not been found to result in significant alterations in a number of physiological response variables including the duration of drug induced sleeping time and serum chemistry changes, although there is some suggestion (nonstatistically significant) of a post-exposure increase in certain serum enzymes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 30, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA091813
Entities
People
- Li Ping
- Robert R. Hoffman
- S. F. Cleary
Organizations
- Virginia Commonwealth University