Effects of static magnetic fields on nicotinic cholinergic receptor function

Bioelectromagnetics. 2011 Sep;32(6):434-42. doi: 10.1002/bem.20657. Epub 2011 Feb 22.

Abstract

Ligand-gated ion channel kinetics were studied in mammalian transfected cells encoding adult mouse muscle acetylcholine (ACh) receptors. We measured macroscopic and single-channel currents using the outside-out and cell-attached patch-clamp configurations. Cultured cells were exposed to moderate intensity inhomogeneous static magnetic fields up to 180 mT and measurements were performed for temperatures ranging from 5 to 50 °C. We found no significant changes in ACh-elicited macroscopic or single-channel currents. We observed the expected dependence in current decay constants with temperature, but negligible magnetic field influence on the channel's kinetics.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Ligand-Gated Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Magnetic Fields*
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / metabolism*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Ligand-Gated Ion Channels
  • Receptors, Nicotinic