Day-night rhythms in the inhibitory effects of 60 Hz magnetic fields on opiate-mediated 'analgesic' behaviors of the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis

Whole body static magnetic field exposure increases thermal nociceptive threshold in the snail, Helix pomatia

We investigated the effect of homogeneous and inhomogeneous static magnetic field (SMF) exposure on the thermal nociceptive threshold of snail in the hot plate test (43 °C). Both homogeneous (hSMF) and inhomogeneous (iSMF) SMF increased the thermo-nociceptive threshold: 40.2%, 29.2%, or 41.7% after an exposure of 20, 30, or 40 min hSMF by p < 0.001, p < 0.0001, or p < 0.001, and 32.7% or 46.2% after an exposure of 20 or 40 min iSMF by p < 0.05 or p < 0.0001. These results suggest that SMF has an antinociceptive effect in snail. On the other hand, naloxone as an atypical opioid antagonist in an amount of 1 μg/g was found to significantly decrease the thermo-nociceptive threshold (41.9% by p < 0.002), which could be antagonized by hSMF exposure implying that hSMF exerts its antinociceptive effect partly via opioid receptors.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces nociceptive threshold in rats

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate or inhibit nerve cells in the brain noninvasively. TMS induces an electromagnetic current in the underlying cortical neurons. Varying frequencies and intensities of TMS increase or decrease excitability in the cortical area directly targeted. It has been suggested that TMS has potential in the treatment of some neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and depression. Initial case reports and open label trials reported by several groups support the use of TMS in pain treatment. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of TMS on the nociceptive threshold in the rat. The parameters used were a frequency of 60 Hz and an intensity of 2 and 6 mT for 2 hr twice per day. After 5 days of TMS treatment, rats were evaluated for mechanical, chemical, and cold stimulation. We observed a significant reduction in the nociceptive threshold in TMS-treated rats but not in sham-treated rats in all behavioral tests evaluated. When TMS treatment was stopped, a slow recovery to normal mechanic threshold was observed. Interestingly, i.c.v. MK-801 or CNQX administration reverted the TMS-induced pronociception. The results suggest that high-frequency TMS can alter the nociceptive threshold and produce allodynia in the rats; results suggest the involvement of NMDA and AMPA/KA receptors on TMS-induced allodynia in the rat.

Does exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields produce functional changes in human brain?

Behavioral and neurophysiological changes have been reported after exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) both in animals and in humans. The physiological bases of these effects are still poorly understood. In vitro studies analyzed the effect of ELF-MF applied in pulsed mode (PEMFs) on neuronal cultures showing an increase in excitatory neurotransmission. Using transcranial brain stimulation, we studied noninvasively the effect of PEMFs on several measures of cortical excitability in 22 healthy volunteers, in 14 of the subjects we also evaluated the effects of sham field exposure. After 45 min of PEMF exposure, intracortical facilitation produced by paired pulse brain stimulation was significantly enhanced with an increase of about 20%, while other parameters of cortical excitability remained unchanged. Sham field exposure produced no effects. The increase in paired-pulse facilitation, a physiological parameter related to cortical glutamatergic activity, suggests that PEMFs exposure may produce an enhancement in cortical excitatory neurotransmission. This study suggests that PEMFs may produce functional changes in human brain.

Pain perception and electromagnetic fields

A substantial body of evidence has accumulated showing that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) affects pain sensitivity (nociception) and pain inhibition (analgesia). Consistent inhibitory effects of acute exposures to various EMFs on analgesia have been demonstrated in most studies. This renders examinations of changes in the expression of analgesia and nociception a particularly valuable means of addressing the biological effects of and mechanisms underlying the actions of EMFs. Here we provide an overview of the effects of various EMFs on nociceptive sensitivity and analgesia, with particular emphasis on opioid-mediated responses. We also describe the analgesic effects of particular specific EMFs, the effects of repeated exposures to EMFs and magnetic shielding, along with the dependence of EMF effects on lighting conditions. We further consider some of the underlying cellular and biophysical mechanisms along with the clinical implications of these effects of various EMFs.

Effects of 50Hz electromagnetic fields on electroencephalographic alpha activity, dental pain threshold and cardiovascular parameters in humans

Recent studies indicate that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MFs) influences human electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha activity and pain perception. In the present study we analyse the effect on electrical EEG activity in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) and on nociception in 40 healthy male volunteers after 90-min exposure of the head to 50 Hz ELF MFs at a flux density of 40 or 80 microT in a double-blind randomized sham-controlled study. Since cardiovascular regulation is functionally related to pain modulation, we also measured blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during treatment. Alpha activity after 80 microT magnetic treatment almost doubled compared to sham treatment. Pain threshold after 40 microT magnetic treatment was significantly lower than after sham treatment. No effects were found for BP and HR. We suggest that these results may be explained by a modulation of sensory gating processes through the opioidergic system, that in turn is influenced by magnetic exposure.

Human head exposure to a 37 Hz electromagnetic field: Effects on blood pressure, somatosensory perception, and related parameters

Previous studies have shown that exposure to an electromagnetic field (EMF) of 37 Hz at a flux density of 80 microT peak enhances nociceptive sensitivity in mice. Here we examined the effects on pain sensitivity and some indexes of cardiovascular regulation mechanisms in humans by measuring electrical cutaneous thresholds, arterial blood pressure, heart rate and its variability, and stress hormones. Pain and tolerance thresholds remained unchanged after sham exposure but significantly decreased after electromagnetic exposure. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher during electromagnetic exposure and heart rate significantly decreased, both during sham and electromagnetic exposure, while the high frequency (150-400 mHz) component of heart rate variability, which is an index of parasympathetic activity, increased as expected during sham exposure but remained unchanged during electromagnetic exposure. Cortisol significantly decreased during sham exposure only. These results show that exposure to an EMF of 37 Hz also alters pain sensitivity in humans and suggest that these effects may be associated with abnormalities in cardiovascular regulation.

Effects of magnetic field exposure on open field behaviour and nociceptive responses in mice

Results of previous studies have shown that nociceptive sensitivity in male C57 mice is enhanced by exposure to a regular 37 Hz or an irregularly varying (<1 Hz) electromagnetic field. In order to test whether these fields affect more generally mouse behaviour, we placed Swiss CD-1 mice in a novel environment (open field test) and exposed them for 2 h to these two different magnetic field conditions. Hence, we analysed how duration and time course of various behavioural patterns (i.e. exploration, rear, edge chew, self-groom, sit, walk and sleep) and nociceptive sensitivity had been affected by such exposure. Nociceptive sensitivity was significantly greater in magnetically treated mice than in controls. The overall time spent in exploratory activities was significantly shorter in both magnetically treated groups (< 1 Hz, 33% and 37 Hz, 29% of total time), than in controls (42%). Conversely, the time spent in sleeping was markedly longer in the treated groups (both 27% of total time) than in controls (11%). These results suggest that exposure to altered magnetic fields induce a more rapid habituation to a novel environment.

Shielding, but not zeroing of the ambient magnetic field reduces stress-induced analgesia in mice

Magnetic field exposure was consistently found to affect pain inhibition (i.e. analgesia). Recently, we showed that an extreme reduction of the ambient magnetic and electric environment, by mu-metal shielding, also affected stress-induced analgesia (SIA) in C57 mice. Using CD1 mice, we report here the same findings from replication studies performed independently in Pisa, Italy and London, ON, Canada. Also, neither selective vector nulling of the static component of the ambient magnetic field with Helmholtz coils, nor copper shielding of only the ambient electric field, affected SIA in mice. We further show that a pre-stress exposure to the mu-metal box is necessary for the anti-analgesic effects to occur. The differential effects of the two near-zero magnetic conditions may depend on the elimination (obtained only by mu-metal shielding) of the extremely weak time-varying component of the magnetic environment. This would provide the first direct and repeatable evidence for a behavioural and physiological effect of very weak time-varying magnetic fields, suggesting the existence of a very sensitive magnetic discrimination in the endogenous mechanisms that underlie SIA. This has important implications for other reported effects of exposures to very weak magnetic fields and for the theoretical work that considers the mechanisms underlying the biological detection of weak magnetic fields.

Exposure to a hypogeomagnetic field or to oscillating magnetic fields similarly reduce stress-induced analgesia in C57 male mice

Previous studies have shown that exposure to altered magnetic fields alters analgesic responses in a variety of species, including humans. Here we examined whether deprivation of the normally occurring geomagnetic field also affects stress-induced analgesia, by measuring the nociceptive responses of C57 male mice that were restraint-stressed in a hypogeomagnetic environment (inside a mu-metal box). Stress-induced analgesia was significantly suppressed in a manner comparable to that observed in mice that were either exposed to altered oscillating magnetic fields or treated with the prototypic opiate antagonist naloxone. These results represent the first piece of evidence that a period in a hypogeomagnetic environment inhibits stress-induced analgesia.

Evaluation of whole-animal data using the ion parametric resonance model

Changes observed in the behavioral response of land snails from exposure to parallel ac and dc magnetic fields demonstrate limited agreement with the predictions of an interaction model proposed by Lednev and the predictions of a recently proposed ion parametric resonance (IPR) model. However, the inadequate number of reported data points, particularly in a critical exposure range, prevents unambiguous application of either the Lednev or the IPR model.

The opiate system in invertebrates

The presence in diverse species of a similar mode of communication, that of a soluble messenger binding to a receptor, raises the question as to whether the specific components of this system are equally widespread. Do invertebrates use the same hormones and receptors as vertebrates do? Invertebrates ranging from unicellular organisms to insects have been shown to contain opiate-like peptides and binding sites, and they exhibit biological responses to opiates. However, critical genetic data are lacking. It is not known how signal systems arise phylogenetically, but it is conceivable that signal molecules that are already present cause the formation of their own receptors from membrane proteins.

Endogenous opiates: 1990

This paper, an examination of works published during 1990, is thirteenth in a series of our annual reviews of the research involving the behavioral, nonanalgesic, effects of the endogenous opiate peptides. The specific topics this year include stress; tolerance and dependence, eating; drinking; gastrointestinal, renal, and hepatic functions; mental illness; learning, memory, and reward; cardiovascular responses; respiration and thermoregulation; seizures and other neurological disorders; electrical-related activity; locomotor activity; sex, pregnancy, development, and aging; immunological responses; and other behavior.

Evidence for the involvement of protein kinase C in the modulation of morphine-induced 'analgesia' and the inhibitory effects of exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields in the snail, Cepaea nemoralis

There is substantial evidence that magnetic fields can reduce opiate-induced analgesia, with alterations in calcium channel function and/or calcium ion flux being implicated in the mediation of these inhibitory effects. The present experiments were designed to examine the effects of protein kinase C (PKC), a calcium/diacylglycerol/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, on opiate-induced analgesia and its involvement in mediating the inhibitory effects of exposure to magnetic fields. We observed that morphine-induced antinociception, or 'analgesia', in the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis, as measured by the enhanced latency of response to a thermal (38.5 degrees C) stimulus, was reduced in dose-related manner by the PKC activator, SC-9. Exposure of snails for 2 h to a low intensity (1.0 gauss rms) 60-Hz magnetic field also reduced morphine-induced analgesia. The inhibitory effects of the 60-Hz magnetic field on morphine-induced analgesia were significantly reduced by the PKC inhibitors, H-7 and H-9, and significantly enhanced by the PKC activator, SC-9. The non-specific protein kinase inhibitor, HA-1004, and the preferential calmodulin inhibitor, W-7, had no significant effects on either morphine-induced analgesia or the inhibitory actions of exposure to the magnetic fields. These results suggest that: (1) PKC has antagonistic effects on opiate-mediated analgesia in the snail, Cepaea, and (2) that the inhibitory effects of magnetic fields on opiate-induced analgesia involve alterations in PKC.

Inhibitory effects of 60-Hz magnetic fields on opiate-induced "analgesia" in the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis, under natural conditions

There is accumulating laboratory evidence that magnetic fields can affect a variety of opioid-mediated behavioral and physiological functions in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The present study examined the effects of various durations (0.50, 1.0 and 2.0 h) of exposure to a low intensity (1.0 gauss rms) 60-Hz magnetic field on opioid-mediated aversive thermal ("nociceptive") responses and morphine-induced "analgesia" in the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis, under natural environmental conditions. Exposure to the powerline-related 60-Hz magnetic fields significantly attenuated morphine-induced analgesia and the basal nociceptive responses of Cepaea, with the degree of attenuation being related to the duration of exposure to the magnetic fields. These results with Cepaea show that 60-Hz magnetic fields can affect opioid-mediated behavioral responses outside the laboratory under natural environmental conditions.

Increased mortality in land snails (Cepaea nemoralis) exposed to powerline (60-Hz) magnetic fields and effects of the light-dark cycle

The effects of various durations (0.5, 2, 12, 48, or 120 h) of day- and night-time exposures to a 1.0 gauss (rms) 60-Hz magnetic field or sham field on mortality levels in the nocturnally-crepuscularly active land snail, Cepaea nemoralis, were examined. These snails were injected with morphine or saline vehicle and tested for reaction to an aversive thermal stimulus as part of another study. Mortality levels were monitored over a 2-week period following the initial exposure to the fields and were shown not to be differentially affected by the drug injection procedures. Mortality levels increased linearly as a function of increased length of exposure to the magnetic fields (P less than 0.001) but not when exposed to the sham fields. As well, night-time exposures resulted in greater mortality levels than day-time exposures (P less than 0.025). These results indicate that day-night rhythms are important in determining the magnitude of the magnetic field exposure effect. It is speculated that the magnetic fields may disrupt endogenous opioid- and calcium-modulated homeostatic mechanisms and augment stress effects, modifying a variety of systems including immunocompetence.