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Biomedical subjects

A R Liboff

Publications and source records attributed to A R Liboff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity is altered by 20 microT magnetostatic fields.

Absorbance measurements at 660 nm of calmodulin (CaM) dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity under cell free conditions indicate that 30-min exposures to weak magnetostatic field intensities alters this activity, compared to zero magnetic field exposures. This effect depends nonlinearly on the concentration of free calcium, with maximum magnetic interaction apparently occurring at an optimal Ca(2+) concentration corresponding to 50% activation (EC(50)). If one regards Ca(2+)/CaM activation as a switching process, then increasing the magnetic field at Ca(2+) levels in excess of optimal acts to bias this switch towards lower calcium concentrations. A magnetic dependence has been previously reported by others in an homologous system, CaM dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation, implying that there may be an underlying magnetic interaction that involves the initial Ca(2+)/CaM binding process common to both enzymatic pathways. The level of magnetostatic intensity at which this effect is observed ( approximately 20 microT) implies that CaM activation may be functionally sensitive to the geomagnetic field.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Physical mechanisms in neuroelectromagnetic therapies.

Physical parameters that are used to characterize different types of electromagnetic devices used in neurotherapy can include power, frequency, carrier frequency, current, magnetic field intensity, and whether an application is primarily electric or primarily magnetic. Currents can range from tens of microamperes to hundreds of milliamperes, magnetic fields from tens of microtesla to more than one tesla, and frequencies from a few Hz to more than 50 GHz. A division into three device categories is proposed, based on the current applied and the specificity of the therapeutic signal. Two research areas have great potential for new neuroelectromagnetic strategies. Studies of endogenous neural oscillatory states suggest using external fields to reinforce or inhibit such states. Also, various independent groups have reported that weak magnetic fields, in particular ion cyclotron resonance fields, are capable of sharply altering behavior in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

New model for the avian magnetic compass.

It is proposed that the avian magnetic compass depends on the angle between the horizontal component B(h) of the geomagnetic field (GMF) and E(r), the radial electric field distribution generated by gamma-oscillations within the optic tectum (TeO). We hypothesize that the orientation of the brain relative to B(h) is perceived as a set of electric field ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) frequencies that are distributed in spatially recognizeable regions within the TeO. For typical GMF intensities, the expected ICR frequencies fall within the 20-50 Hz range of gamma-oscillation frequencies observed during visual stimulation. The model builds on the fact that the superficial lamina of the TeO receive signals from the retina that spatially map the visual field. The ICR frequencies are recruited from the local wide-band gamma-oscillations and are superposed on the tectum for interpretation along with other sensory data. As a first approximation, our analysis is restricted to the medial horizontal plane of the TeO. For the bird to fly in a preferred, previously mapped direction relative to B(h), it hunts for that orientation that positions the frequency maxima at appropriate locations on the TeO. This condition can be maintained even as B(h) varies with geomagnetic latitude during the course of long-distance flights. The magnetovisual coordinate system (straight phi, omega) overlaying the two halves of the tectal surface in a nonsymmetric way may imply an additional orienting function for the TeO over and above that of a simple compass (e.g., homing navigation as distinct from migrational navigation).

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Weak ELF magnetic field effects on hippocampal rhythmic slow activity.

Several investigations have revealed that electrical activity within the central nervous system (CNS) can be affected by exposure to weak extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields. Many of these studies have implicated CNS structures exhibiting endogenous oscillation and synchrony as optimal sites for field coupling. A particularly well characterized structure in this regard is the rat hippocampus. Under urethane anesthesia, synchronous bursting among hippocampal pyramidal neurons produces a large-amplitude quasi-sinusoidal field potential oscillation, termed "rhythmic slow activity" (RSA) or "theta." Using this in vivo model, we investigated the effect of exposure to an externally applied sinusoidal magnetic field (16.0 Hz; 28.9 microT(rms)) on RSA. During a 60-min exposure interval, the probability of RSA decaying to a less coherent mode of oscillation, termed "large irregular-amplitude activity" (LIA), was increased significantly. Moreover, this instability persisted for up to 90 min postexposure. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous CNS oscillators are uniquely susceptible to field-mediated perturbation and suggest that the sensitivity of these networks to such fields may be far greater than had previously been assumed. This sensitivity may reflect nonlinearities inherent to these networks which permit amplification of endogenous fields mediating the initiation and propagation of neuronal synchrony.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Electric-field ion cyclotron resonance.

We consider the possibility that DC magnetic fields can interact in a resonant manner with endogenous AC electric fields in biological systems. Intrinsic electric-field ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) interactions would be more physically credible than models based on external AC magnetic fields and might be expected as an evolutionary response to the long-term constancy of the geomagnetic field.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Weak extremely-low-frequency magnetic field-induced regeneration anomalies in the planarian Dugesia tigrina.

We recently reported that cephalic regeneration in the planarian Dugesia tigrina was significantly delayed in populations exposed continuously to combined parallel DC and AC magnetic fields. This effect was consistent with hypotheses suggesting an underlying resonance phenomenon. We report here, in a parallel series of investigations on the same model system, that the incidence of regeneration anomalies presenting as tumor-like protuberances also increases significantly (P < .001) in association with exposure to weak 60 Hz magnetic fields, with peak intensities ranging between 1.0 and 80.0 microT. These anomalies often culminate in the complete disaggregation of the organism. Similar to regeneration rate effects, the incidence of regeneration anomalies is specifically dependent upon the planaria possessing a fixed orientation with respect to the applied magnetic field vectors. However, unlike the regeneration rate effects, the AC magnetic field alone, in the absence of any measurable DC field, is capable of producing these anomalies. Moreover, the incidence of regeneration anomalies follows a clear dose-response relationship as a function of AC magnetic field intensity, with the threshold for induced electric field intensity estimated at 5 microV/m. The addition of either 51.1 or 78.4 microT DC magnetic fields, applied in parallel combination with the AC field, enhances the appearance of anomalies relative to the 60 Hz AC field alone, but only at certain AC field intensities. Thus, whereas our previous study of regeneration rate effects appeared to involve exclusively resonance interactions, the regeneration anomalies reported here appear to result primarily from Faraday induction coupling. These results together with those reported previously point to two distinct physiological effects produced in regenerating planaria by exposure to weak extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields. They further suggest that the planarian, which has recently been identified elsewhere as an excellent system for use in teratogenic investigations involving chemical teratogens, might be used similarly in teratogenic investigations involving ELF magnetic fields.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗
PubMed1995

Weak extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields and regeneration in the planarian Dugesia tigrina.

Extremely-low-frequency (ELF), low-intensity magnetic fields have been shown to influence cell signaling processes in a variety of systems, both in vivo and in vitro. Similar effects have been demonstrated for nervous system development and neurite outgrowth. We report that regeneration in planaria, which incorporates many of these processes, is also affected by ELF magnetic fields. The rate of cephalic regeneration, reflected by the mean regeneration time (MRT), for planaria populations regenerating under continuous exposure to combined DC (78.4 muT) and AC (60.0 Hz at 10.0 muTpeak) magnetic fields applied in parallel was found to be significantly delayed (P << 0.001) by 48 +/- 1 h relative to two different types of control populations (MRT approximately 140 +/- 12 h). One control population was exposed to only the AC component of this field combination, while the other experienced only the ambient geomagnetic field. All measurements were conducted in a low-gradient, low-noise magnetics laboratory under well-maintained temperature conditions. This delay in regeneration was shown to be dependent on the planaria having a fixed orientation with respect to the magnetic field vectors. Results also indicate that this orientation-dependent transduction process does not result from Faraday induction but is consistent with a Ca2+ cyclotron resonance mechanism. Data interpretation also permits the tentative conclusion that the effect results from an inhibition of events at an early stage in the regeneration process before the onset of proliferation and differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Power lines and the geomagnetic field.

The metric of prime interest in power line epidemiological studies has been AC magnetic intensity. To consider also possible geomagnetic involvement, the orientation of a long straight power line is examined relative to a uniform geomagnetic field (GMF) with dip angle alpha. An expression is derived for the component of the total GMF that is parallel, at an elevation beta, to the circuital magnetic field that surrounds the line. This component is a function of the angles alpha and beta, the total geomagnetic intensity BT, and the angle theta between the axis of the power line and magnetic north. Plotting these geomagnetic parameters for known leukemia residences allows one to test for possible ion cyclotron resonance or other GMF interactions. This approach, in principle, is an easy addition to existing or planned studies, because residential access is not required to obtain local values for alpha, beta, theta, and BT. We recommend including these parameters in the design of epidemiological studies examining power line fields and childhood leukemia.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Ion resonance electromagnetic field stimulation of fracture healing in rabbits with a fibular ostectomy.

Rabbits with a fibular ostectomy were exposed for 28 days to magnetic fields that satisfied the ion resonance conditions for calcium or magnesium. The rabbits were exposed to whole body treatment for 1/2 hour, 3 hours, or 24 hours per day. The fibulae from the experimental and control animals were removed surgically and were subjected to force-deflection testing to establish the stiffness of the healed fracture. The fibulae from the rabbits exposed to the ion resonance magnetic fields were found to be 55-299% (p < 0.01) more robust than the fibulae from the control animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Electromagnetic gating in ion channels.

There have been many attempts to develop a theoretical explanation of the phenomena of electromagnetic field interactions with biological systems. None of the reported efforts have been entirely successful in accounting for the observed experimental results, in particular with respect to the reports of interactions between extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and biological systems at ion cyclotron resonance frequencies. The approach used in this paper starts with the Lorentz force equation, but use is made of cylindrical co-ordinates and cylindrical boundary conditions in an attempt to more closely model the walls of an ion channel. The equations of motion of an ion that result from this approach suggest that the inside shape of the channel plus the ELF magnetic fields at specific frequencies and amplitudes could act as a gate to control the movement of the ion across the cell membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Measurements of potential differences in human subjects induced by motion in a superconducting magnetic field.

We have attempted to measure the electromotive forces (emfs) induced in human beings moving at a constant speed in a highly dense magnetic field. Experiments were initially conducted on a set of models, and then directly on human subjects. The models consisted of single circular loops of Tygon tubing (I.D., 0.635 cm; O.D., 0.9525 cm) filled with normal saline solution, with circumferences of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 cm. The models were connected to an amplifier via silver/silver-chloride electrodes. Each saline loop was mounted on a movable platform, with the plane of the loop perpendicular to the platform's axis; the platform was enabled to move at known constant speeds into and out of the bore of a 1.89-T magnet. The human subjects were then substituted for the saline loops, with the long axis parallel to the direction of motion, and with standard EKG electrodes placed at 180 degrees successively on the ankle, calf, lower thigh, upper thigh, chest, and head. In all cases, for human subjects and models, the peak induced voltage was directly proportional to the speed of movement and the square of the circumference of the bounded cross-sectional areas. Thus, for the saline loops, the correlation coefficient between induced voltage and circumference was .998, and for human subjects, .947. Under the loose assumption that for equal circumferences the bounded areas in human subjects were equal to those in the circular loops, the induced emfs in human subjects were consistently about 13% greater than those in the loops. At a mean speed of 1.18 m/s, the chest had a peak induced voltage of 260 mV, while the voltage at the ankle had a peak of 19.8 mV. The experimental data were used to estimate the corresponding induced-current density at the pericardium, 17 mA/m2. We conclude for a human subject moving at constant speed along the body's long axis into a magnetic field that Faraday's law is closely followed for various cross-sections of the body. Further, in those cases in which the magnetic field and its gradient are not well-established, one can use saline-filled loops to estimate approximate values of voltages induced in human subjects.

Electric Conductivity↗
PubMed1991

Search for ion-cyclotron resonance in an Na(+)-transport system.

Colonic tissue from the turtle (Pseudemys scripta) was exposed in a Ussing chamber to simultaneously applied static and time-varying magnetic fields. Transepithelial differences of potential were monitored as frequency of the AC field was varied continuously or in discrete steps from 3 to 770 Hz. Density of the DC field was varied from 10 to 220 microT and that of the AC field from 1 to 20 microT. Short-circuit currents through tissue were monitored for changes that might have been observed under ion-cyclotron resonance (ICR) conditions for each of several ions: H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl-. No discernible changes of transepithelial current were observed. The negative findings are discussed in relation to positive and negative findings that have appeared in the literature.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Intensity threshold for 60-Hz magnetically induced behavioral changes in rats.

Experiments were conducted to further investigate the effect of 60-Hz cyclotron-resonance exposures on rats performing on a multiple FR-DRL schedule. The previously reported temporary loss of DRL baseline response, when measured as a function of A.C. magnetic intensity, was found to have a threshold. Utilizing the component of A.C. magnetic intensity parallel to the D.C. field, we report this threshold as (0.27 +/- 0.10) x 10(-4) Trms.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Kinetics of channelized membrane ions in magnetic fields.

The cyclotron resonance model for channel ion transport in weak magnetic fields is extended to include damping losses. The conductivity tensor is obtained for different electric field configurations, including the circuital field E phi normal to the channel axis. The conductivity behavior close to the cyclotron resonance frequency omega c is compared to existing Ca2+-efflux data in the literature. A collision time of .023 s results from this comparison under the assumption that K+ ions are transiting in a 0.35 G field. We estimate a mean kinetic energy of 3.5 eV for this ion at resonance. This model leads to discrete modes of vibration (eigenfrequencies) in the ion-lattice interaction, such that omega n = n omega c. The presence of such harmonics is compatible with recent results by Blackman et al. [1985b] and McLeod et al. [1986] with the interesting exception that even modes do not appear in their observations, whereas the present model has no restriction on n. This harmonic formalism is also consistent with another reported phenomenon, that of quantized multiple conductances in single patch-clamped channels.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1987

Calcium cyclotron resonance and diatom mobility.

The hypothesis that movement of biological ions may be predicted by cyclotron resonance theory applied to cell membranes is tested in these experiments. Diatoms (Amphora coffeaeformis) were chosen as the biosystem since they move or don't move, depending on how much calcium is transported across the membrane. The experiments demonstrate that a particular ion (calcium) is apparently moved across the cell membrane in response to the DC and AC values of magnetic flux densities (B) and the frequency derived from the cyclotron resonance theory. A clear resonance is shown and a rather sharp frequency response curve is demonstrated. The experiments also show a dose response as the AC value of the flux density is varied, and that odd harmonics of the basic cyclotron frequency are also effective.

Calcium↗
PubMed1987

Nifedipine is an antagonist to cyclotron resonance enhancement of 45Ca incorporation in human lymphocytes.

The incorporation of 45Ca in mixed human lymphocytes was measured following one-hour exposures of the cells to combined steady and periodic magnetic fields designed to probe for cyclotron resonance response in calcium incorporation. Measurements were made as a function of magnetic field frequency, up to 30 Hz, and as a function of magnetic field amplitude, up to 1.5 x 10(-4) Trms. The amplitude measurements demonstrated that the relative 45Ca uptake at resonance follows different mechanisms of interaction above and below 0.2 x 10(-4) Trms. After adjusting the magnetic field configuration for maximum incorporation, we then determined the effects of the calcium influx blocker nifedipine on 45Ca incorporation, with and without simultaneous exposure to this specific magnetic field combination. The presence of nifedipine in both unexposed and exposed cell suspensions resulted in decreased 45Ca uptake, presumably through the slow inward calcium channels. Evidence was found suggesting that nifedipine acts antagonistically to the 45Ca cyclotron resonance tuning signal.

Calcium↗
PubMed1986

Dynamic characteristics of membrane ions in multifield configurations of low-frequency electromagnetic radiation.

We seek to extend the recent suggestion that classical cyclotron resonance of biologically important ions is implicated in weak electromagnetic field-cell interactions. The motion of charged particles in a constant magnetic field and periodic electric field is examined under the simplifying assumption of no damping. Each of the nine terms of the relative dielectric tensor is found to have a dependence on functions that include the factor (omega 2 - omega 2B)-1, where omega B is the gyrofrequency. We also find a plasmalike decomposition of the electric field into oppositely rotating components that could conceivably act to drive oppositely charged ions in the same direction through helical membrane channels. For weak low-frequency magnetic fields, an additional feature arises, namely, periodic reinforcement of the resonance condition with intervals of the order of tens of msec for biological ions such as Li+, Na+, and K+.

Electromagnetic Phenomena↗