Extremely High Frequency EMF Facilitate Electrical Signal Propagation by Increasing Transmembrane Potassium Efflux in Artificial Axon Model

2018 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 2067

In an artificial axon model, exposure to EHF-EMF (53.37 GHz, 39 mW) increased the amplitude of the electrical signal, which the authors attribute to increased potassium efflux from lipid vesicles. Exposure also potentiated the action of valinomycin, increasin…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Extremely High Frequency EMF Facilitate Electrical Signal Propagation by Increasing Transmembrane Potassium Efflux in Artificial Axon Model D'Agostino S, Della Monica C, Palizzi E, Di Pietrantonio F, Benetti M, Cannatà D, Cavagnaro M, Sardari D, Stano P, Ramundo-Orlando A. Extremely High Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Facilitate Electrical Signal Propagation by Increasing Transmembrane Potassium Efflux in an Artificial Axon Model. Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 18;8(1):9299. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27630-8. Abstract Among the many biological effects caused by low intensity extremely high frequency electromagnetic fields (EHF-EMF) reported in the literature, those on the nervous system are a promising area for further research. The mechanisms by which these fields alter neural activity are still unclear and thus far there appears to be no frequency dependence regarding neuronal responses. Therefore, proper in vitro models for preliminary screening studies of the interaction between neural cells with EMF are needed. We designed an artificial axon model consisting of a series of parallel RC networks. Each RC network contained an aqueous solution of lipid vesicles with a gradient of potassium (K+) concentration as the functional element. We investigated the effects of EHF-EMF (53.37 GHz-39 mW) on the propagation of the electric impulse. We report that exposure to the EHF- EMF increases the amplitude of electrical signal by inducing a potassium efflux from lipid vesicles. Further, exposure to the EHF-EMF potentiates the action of valinomycin - a K+ carrier - increasing the extent of K+ transport across the lipid membrane. We conclude that exposure to the EHF-EMF facilitates the electrical signal propagation by increasing transmembrane potassium efflux, and that the model presented is promising for future screening studies of different EMF frequency spectrum bands. Open access paper: nature.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureEHF · 53370 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Electrical signal propagation/amplitude in artificial axon model
Transmembrane potassium (K+) efflux/transport across lipid vesicle membranes
Potentiation of valinomycin (K+ carrier) action

Limitations

Artificial axon (lipid vesicle/RC network) model rather than living neural cells or organisms
Exposure duration not reported in the abstract
Dosimetry metrics such as SAR not reported in the abstract
Sample size and replication details not reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "EHF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 53370,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electrical signal propagation/amplitude in artificial axon model",
    "Transmembrane potassium (K+) efflux/transport across lipid vesicle membranes",
    "Potentiation of valinomycin (K+ carrier) action"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In an artificial axon model, exposure to EHF-EMF (53.37 GHz, 39 mW) increased the amplitude of the electrical signal, which the authors attribute to increased potassium efflux from lipid vesicles. Exposure also potentiated the action of valinomycin, increasing K+ transport across the lipid membrane.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Artificial axon (lipid vesicle/RC network) model rather than living neural cells or organisms",
    "Exposure duration not reported in the abstract",
    "Dosimetry metrics such as SAR not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size and replication details not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely high frequency",
    "EHF-EMF",
    "53.37 GHz",
    "millimeter wave",
    "artificial axon model",
    "lipid vesicles",
    "potassium efflux",
    "valinomycin",
    "electrical signal propagation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27630-8
PubMed: Not supplied

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