Effect of Middle-Level Static Magnetic Field on Metabolic Activity of Mitochondria
Masao SAITO Member (Tokyo Denki University) The study intends to clarify the effect of the static magnetic field on the cellular activities. This paper is concerned with the metabolic activity of the mitochondria from the viewpoint of its energy level. As a preliminary examination, the time required to render the cells to the low energy state to the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and to reduce its energy level, was examined by keeping the cells in the medium with low-density fetal bovine serum. Then, we examined the effect of the magnetic field on the mitochondria energy activity from the viewpoint of the cell metabolism estimated by the MTT assay. We also examined the cell respiration, expecting that the mitochondria energy activity level will be reflected on the respiration. The magnetic field was kept at 100 [mT], as well as 0 [mT] as the control. The results by MTT assay indicated that the mitochondria energy activity seems to be enhanced by the factor of 1.5. We found that the cell respiration is increased by the factor of 1.3 by the exposure to the magnetic field. It is seen by the t-test that the difference is statistically significant. It is thus concluded that the mitochondria energy activity is enhanced in the GO/G1 phase of the cell cycle by the exposure to the magnetic field. On the other hand, we also found that the mitochondria energy cycle period is little effected.