The effect of a 94 GHz electromagnetic field on neuronal microtubules

Interactions between electromagnetic radiation and biological systems

Even though the bioeffects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) have been extensively investigated during the past several decades, our understandings of the bioeffects of EMR and the mechanisms of the interactions between the biological systems and the EMRs are still far from satisfactory. In this article, we introduce and summarize the consensus, controversy, limitations, and unsolved issues. The published works have investigated the EMR effects on different biological systems including humans, animals, cells, and biochemical reactions. Alternative methodologies also include dielectric spectroscopy, detection of bioelectromagnetic emissions, and theoretical predictions. In many studies, the thermal effects of the EMR are not properly controlled or considered. The frequency of the EMR investigated is limited to the commonly used bands, particularly the frequencies of the power line and the wireless communications; far fewer studies were performed for other EMR frequencies. In addition, the bioeffects of the complex EM environment were rarely discussed. In summary, our understanding of the bioeffects of the EMR is quite restrictive and further investigations are needed to answer the unsolved questions.

High Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation Stimulates Neuronal Growth and Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission

Terahertz waves lie within the rotation and oscillation energy levels of biomolecules, and can directly couple with biomolecules to excite nonlinear resonance effects, thus causing conformational or configuration changes in biomolecules. Based on this mechanism, we investigated the effect pattern of 0.138 THz radiation on the dynamic growth of neurons and synaptic transmission efficiency, while explaining the phenomenon at a more microscopic level. We found that cumulative 0.138 THz radiation not only did not cause neuronal death, but that it promoted the dynamic growth of neuronal cytosol and protrusions. Additionally, there was a cumulative effect of terahertz radiation on the promotion of neuronal growth. Furthermore, in electrophysiological terms, 0.138 THz waves improved synaptic transmission efficiency in the hippocampal CA1 region, and this was a slow and continuous process. This is consistent with the morphological results. This phenomenon can continue for more than 10 min after terahertz radiation ends, and these phenomena were associated with an increase in dendritic spine density. In summary, our study shows that 0.138 THz waves can modulate dynamic neuronal growth and synaptic transmission. Therefore, 0.138 terahertz waves may become a novel neuromodulation technique for modulating neuron structure and function.

The laws and effects of terahertz wave interactions with neurons

Introduction: Terahertz waves lie within the energy range of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. They can couple directly with proteins to excite non-linear resonance effects in proteins, and thus affect the structure of neurons. However, it remains unclear which terahertz radiation protocols modulate the structure of neurons. Furthermore, guidelines and methods for selecting terahertz radiation parameters are lacking. Methods: In this study, the propagation and thermal effects of 0.3-3 THz wave interactions with neurons were modelled, and the field strength and temperature variations were used as evaluation criteria. On this basis, we experimentally investigated the effects of cumulative radiation from terahertz waves on neuron structure. Results: The results show that the frequency and power of terahertz waves are the main factors influencing field strength and temperature in neurons, and that there is a positive correlation between them. Appropriate reductions in radiation power can mitigate the rise in temperature in the neurons, and can also be used in the form of pulsed waves, limiting the duration of a single radiation to the millisecond level. Short bursts of cumulative radiation can also be used. Broadband trace terahertz (0.1-2 THz, maximum radiated power 100 μW) with short duration cumulative radiation (3 min/day, 3 days) does not cause neuronal death. This radiation protocol can also promote the growth of neuronal cytosomes and protrusions. Discussion: This paper provides guidelines and methods for terahertz radiation parameter selection in the study of terahertz neurobiological effects. Additionally, it verifies that the short-duration cumulative radiation can modulate the structure of neurons.

Evaluation of the Effect of Chronic 94 GHz Exposure on Gene Expression in the Skin of Hairless Rats In Vivo

Millimeter waves (MMW) are broadband frequencies that have recently been used in several applications in wireless communications, medical devices and nonlethal weapons [i.e., the nonlethal weapon, Active Denial Systems, (ADS) operating at 94-95 GHz, CW]. However, little information is available on their potential effects on humans. These radio-frequencies are absorbed and stopped by the first layer of the skin. In this study, we evaluated the effects of 94 GHz on the gene expression of skin cells. Two rat populations consisting of 17 young animals and 14 adults were subjected to chronic long-term 94 GHz MMW exposure. Each group of animals was divided into exposed and sham subgroups. The two independent exposure experiments were conducted for 5 months with rats exposed 3 h per day for 3 days per week to an incident power density of 10 mW/cm², which corresponded to twice the ICNIRP limit of occupational exposure for humans. At the end of the experiment, skin explants were collected and RNA was extracted. Then, the modifications to the whole gene expression profile were analyzed with a gene expression microarray. Without modification of the animal's temperature, long-term chronic 94 GHz-MMW exposure did not significantly modify the gene expression of the skin on either the young or adult rats.

5G Wireless Communication and Health Effects-A Pragmatic Review Based on Available Studies Regarding 6 to 100 GHz

The introduction of the fifth generation (5G) of wireless communication will increase the number of high-frequency-powered base stations and other devices. The question is if such higher frequencies (in this review, 6-100 GHz, millimeter waves, MMW) can have a health impact. This review analyzed 94 relevant publications performing in vivo or in vitro investigations. Each study was characterized for: study type (in vivo, in vitro), biological material (species, cell type, etc.), biological endpoint, exposure (frequency, exposure duration, power density), results, and certain quality criteria. Eighty percent of the in vivo studies showed responses to exposure, while 58% of the in vitro studies demonstrated effects. The responses affected all biological endpoints studied. There was no consistent relationship between power density, exposure duration, or frequency, and exposure effects. The available studies do not provide adequate and sufficient information for a meaningful safety assessment, or for the question about non-thermal effects. There is a need for research regarding local heat developments on small surfaces, e.g., skin or the eye, and on any environmental impact. Our quality analysis shows that for future studies to be useful for safety assessment, design and implementation need to be significantly improved.

Effect of acute millimeter wave exposure on dopamine metabolism of NGF-treated PC12 cells

Several forthcoming wireless telecommunication systems will use electromagnetic frequencies at millimeter waves (MMWs), and technologies developed around the 60-GHz band will soon know a widespread distribution. Free nerve endings within the skin have been suggested to be the targets of MMW therapy which has been used in the former Soviet Union. So far, no studies have assessed the impact of MMW exposure on neuronal metabolism. Here, we investigated the effects of a 24-h MMW exposure at 60.4 GHz, with an incident power density (IPD) of 5 mW/cm², on the dopaminergic turnover of NGF-treated PC12 cells. After MMW exposure, both intracellular and extracellular contents of dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were studied using high performance liquid chromatography. Impact of exposure on the dopamine transporter (DAT) expression was also assessed by immunocytochemistry. We analyzed the dopamine turnover by assessing the ratio of DOPAC to DA, and measuring DOPAC accumulation in the medium. Neither dopamine turnover nor DAT protein expression level were impacted by MMW exposure. However, extracellular accumulation of DOPAC was found to be slightly increased, but not significantly. This result was related to the thermal effect, and overall, no evidence of non-thermal effects of MMW exposure were observed on dopamine metabolism.

Twenty Four-Hour Exposure to a 0.12 THz Electromagnetic Field Does Not Affect the Genotoxicity, Morphological Changes, or Expression of Heat Shock Protein in HCE-T Cells

To investigate the cellular effects of terahertz (THz) exposure, human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) cells derived from human eye were exposed to 0.12 THz radiation at 5 mW/cm² for 24 h, then the genotoxicity, morphological changes, and heat shock protein (Hsp) expression of the cells were examined. There was no statistically significant increase in the micronucleus (MN) frequency of cells exposed to 0.12 THz radiation compared with sham-exposed controls and incubator controls, whereas the MN frequency of cells treated with bleomycin for 1 h (positive control) did increase significantly. Similarly, there were no significant morphological changes in cells exposed to 0.12 THz radiation compared to sham-exposed controls and incubator controls, and Hsp expression (Hsp27, Hsp70, and Hsp90α) was also not significantly different between the three treatments. These results indicate that exposure to 0.12 THz radiation using the present conditions appears to have no or very little effect on MN formation, morphological changes, and Hsp expression in cells derived from human eye.

Effects of 60-GHz millimeter waves on neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells using high-content screening

Technologies for wireless telecommunication systems using millimeter waves (MMW) will be widely deployed in the near future. Forthcoming applications in this band, especially around 60GHz, are mainly developed for high data-rate local and body-centric telecommunications. At those frequencies, electromagnetic radiations have a very shallow penetration into biological tissues, making skin keratinocytes, and free nerve endings of the upper dermis the main targets of MMW. Only a few studies assessed the impact of MMW on neuronal cells, and none of them investigated a possible effect on neuronal differentiation. We used a neuron-like cell line (PC12), which undergoes neuronal differentiation when treated with the neuronal growth factor (NGF). PC12 cells were exposed at 60.4GHz for 24h, at an incident power density averaged over the cell monolayer of 10mW/cm(2). Using a large scale cell-by-cell analysis based on high-content screening microscopy approach, we assessed potential effects of MMW on PC12 neurite outgrowth and cytoskeleton protein expression. No differences were found in protein expression of the neuronal marker β3-tubulin nor in internal expression control β-tubulin. On the other hand, our data showed a slight increase, although insignificant, in neurite outgrowth, induced by MMW exposure. However, experimental controls demonstrated that this increase was related to heating.

Effect of weak static magnetic fields on the development of cultured skeletal muscle cells

We studied the effect produced on the development and functional activity of skeletal muscle cells from newborn Wistar rats in primary culture by weak static magnetic fields (WSMF; 60-400 µT) with a high capacity of penetrating the biological media. To reduce the impact of external magnetic fields, cells were cultured at 37 °C in a multilayered shielding chamber with the attenuation coefficient equal to 160. WSMF inside the chamber was created by a circular permanent magnet. We found that the application of WSMF with the magnetic field strength only a few times that of the geomagnetic field can accelerate the development of skeletal muscle cells, resulting in the formation of multinuclear hypertrophied myotubes. WSMF was shown to induce 1.5- to 3.5-fold rise in the concentration of intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)]i due to the release of Ca(2+) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through ryanodine receptors (RyR), which increases in the maturation of myotubes. We also found that fully differentiated myotubes at late stages of development were less sensitive to WSMF, manifesting a gradual decrease in the frequency of contractions. However, myotubes at the stage when electromechanical coupling was forming dramatically reduced the frequency of contractions during the first minutes of their exposure to WSMF.

Electro-acoustic behavior of the mitotic spindle: a semi-classical coarse-grained model

The regulation of chromosome separation during mitosis is not fully understood yet. Microtubules forming mitotic spindles are targets of treatment strategies which are aimed at (i) the triggering of the apoptosis or (ii) the interruption of uncontrolled cell division. Despite these facts, only few physical models relating to the dynamics of mitotic spindles exist up to now. In this paper, we present the first electromechanical model which enables calculation of the electromagnetic field coupled to acoustic vibrations of the mitotic spindle. This electromagnetic field originates from the electrical polarity of microtubules which form the mitotic spindle. The model is based on the approximation of resonantly vibrating microtubules by a network of oscillating electric dipoles. Our computational results predict the existence of a rapidly changing electric field which is generated by either driven or endogenous vibrations of the mitotic spindle. For certain values of parameters, the intensity of the electric field and its gradient reach values which may exert a not-inconsiderable force on chromosomes which are aligned in the spindle midzone. Our model may describe possible mechanisms of the effects of ultra-short electrical and mechanical pulses on dividing cells--a strategy used in novel methods for cancer treatment.