Applied DC magnetic fields cause alterations in the time of cell divisions and developmental abnormalities in early sea urchin embryos

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Bioelectromagnetics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1521-186X(1997)18:3<255::AID-BEM9>3.0.CO;2-1· OSTI ID:462572

Levin, M; Ernst, S G ^[1]

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1. Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (United States). Dept. of Biology

Most work on magnetic field effects focuses on AC fields. The present study demonstrates that exposure to medium-strength (10 mT--0.1 T) static magnetic fields can alter the early embryonic development of two species of sea urchin embryos. Batches of fertilized eggs from two species of urchin were exposed to fields produced by permanent magnets. Samples of the continuous cultures were scored for the timing of the first two cell divisions, time of hatching, and incidence of exogastrulation. It was found that static fields delay the onset of mitosis in both species by an amount dependent on the exposure timing relative to fertilization. The exposure time that caused the maximum effect differed between the two species. Thirty millitesla fields, but not 15 mT fields, caused an eightfold increase in the incidence of exogastrulation in Lytechinus pictus, whereas neither of these fields produced exogastrulation in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

• Sponsoring Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 462572
• Journal Information: Bioelectromagnetics, Journal Name: Bioelectromagnetics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 18; ISSN 0197-8462; ISSN BLCTDO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
EMBRYONIC CELLS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MITOSIS
TERATOGENESIS