Effects of a time-varying magnetic field on intracellular cytoskeletal protein of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

Abstract

We tested the effects of exposure to a time-varying magnetic field on functions of cytoskeletal protein in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Transient increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) stimulated by acetylcholine (ACh) in Ca²⁺-free medium was inhibited by 2 hr-exposure to the magnetic field. The exposure also affected oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential and actin protein. Adrenal chromaffin cells exposed to the magnetic field showed a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) after replacement to hypotonic medium, and similar volume regulation was also seen in 2 hr-exposed cells. But, in exposed cells, the cell volume was increased at a slower rate and reached a peak of higher value than control, and recovery to the original value was also delayed. It is suggested that this effect by the exposure on the volume regulation is caused as a result of changing the content or structure of F-actin in chromaffin cells. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S129]