Table Of ContentBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OF
MAGNETIC FIELDS
Volume 2
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OF
MAGNETIC FIELDS
Volume 2
Edited by
Madeleine F. Barnothy
Professor of Physics
University of Illinois, College of Pharmacy
<±>
PLENUM PRESS· NEW YORK - LONDON· 1969
ISBN 978-1-4684-8354-3 ISBN 978-1-4684-8352-9 (eBook)
DOl 10.1007/978-1-4684-8352-9
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 64-13146
© 1969 Plennm Press, New York
Softcover reprint of the hardcover Js t edition 1969
A Division of Plennm Publishing Corporation
227 West 17th Street, New York, N. Y. lOOn
United Kingdom edition published by Plenum Press, London
A Division of Plenum Publishing Company, Ltd.
Donington House, 30 Norfolk Street, London W. C. 2, England
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
form without written permission from the publisher
PREFACE
We define biomagnetism broadly as the science of processes and functions
in living organisms induced by static magnetic fields. Biomagnetic research
has greatly increased since the publication of the first volume of this series.
While much of this work has been reported in various international journals,
there exists a need for this work to be collected together in one place. This
book covers a rather wide area of research, both with respect to the strength
of the field, ranging from "zero" to 150,000 oersteds, and with respect to
the various specimens and their biological functions. It is designed primarly
to help clarify the action of magnetic fields on biological systems with the
hope of achieving a better understanding of the fundamental physiological
processes occurring in them. In some chapters it is suggested that magnetic
fields could ultimately be used in the treatment of disease.
I would like to take this occasion to thank the contributors for their
generous interest and willing cooperation.
M. F. B.
June 1969
Chicago, Illinois
v
CONTRIBUTORS
Robert A. Abler, Varian Associates, Palo Alto, California (page 1).
M. M. Alexandrovskaya, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neuro
physiology, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR (page 215).
Jena M. Barnothy, Biomagnetic Research Foundation, Evanston, Illinois
(page 61).
Madeleine F. Barnothy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago,
Illinois (pages xi, 103).
Robert O. Becker, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center,
Syracuse; Veterans Administration Hospital, Syracuse, New York
(page 207).
Dietrich E. Beischer, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Naval Aerospace
Medical Center, Pensacola, Florida (page 241).
Charles C. Conley, Experimental Pathology Branch, NASA-Ames Research
Center, Moffett Field, California (page 29).
Elton S. Cook, Division of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institutum Divi
Thomae, Cincinnati, Ohio (pages 53,67).
Leo D'Souza, Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cin
cinnati, Ohio (page 53).
Douglas W. Dunlop, Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (page 147).
John C. Fardon, Division of Biology and Experimental Medicine, Institutum
Divi Thomae, Cincinnati, Ohio (page 67).
W. P. Hambright, Department of Chemistry, Howard University, Washing
ton, D.C. (page 261).
Garry D. Hanneman, Veterinary Medical Section, Civil Aeromedical Insti
tute, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
(page 127).
vii
viii Contributors
Harold G. Hedrick, Applied Science Laboratories, General Dynamics,
Fort Worth, Texas (page 233).
Jurinac A. Kholodov, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophy
siology, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR (page 215).
Richard L. Liboff, Department of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineer
ing, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (page 171).
Anatolii I. Likhachev, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the
Azerbaijan SSR, Baku, USSR (page 137).
S. N. Lukjanova, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiol
ogy, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR (page 215).
Peter W. Neurath, Biophysics Division, Department of Therapeutic Radiol
ogy, New England Medical Center Hospitals, Boston, Massachusetts
(page 177).
Leo G. Nutini, Division of Biology and Experimental Medicine, Institutum
Divi Thomae, Cincinnati, Ohio (pages 53, 67).
Robert W. Pumper, Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois,
Chicago, Illinois (page 61).
Vernon R. Reno, Division of Biology and Experimental Medicine, Institutum
Divi Thomae, Cincinnati, Ohio (page 53).
Dennis R. Russell, Applied Research Laboratories, General Dynamics,
Fort Worth, Texas (pages 227, 233).
Barbara L. Schmidt, Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (page 147).
Frank E. Senftle, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. (page 261).
Istvan Siimegi, Dermatological Clinic, Karolinska Sjukhuset, Stockholm,
Sweden (page 103).
Thomas R. Tegenkamp, Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio (page 189).
N. S. Udarova, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology,
Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR (page 215).
Wei Young, Bio-Medical Division, Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Uni
versity of California, Livermore, California (page 79).
CONTENTS
Introduction .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Xl
Madeleine F. Barnothy
Magnets in Biological Research
Robert A. Abler
Effects of Near-Zero Magnetic Fields upon Biological Systems ... 29
Charles C. Conley
The Effects of a Magnetic Field on DNA Synthesis by Ascites Sarcoma
37 Cells. .. . .. ...... .. ... . .... ... . . . . . . . . . ....... .. .. 53
Leo D'Souza, Vernon R. Reno, Leo G. Nutini, and Elton S. Cook
The Effect of Strong Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields on Serum-Free
Cell Cultures ........................................ 61
R. W. Pumper and J. M. Barnothy
Effects of Magnetic Fields on Cellular Respiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Elton S. Cook, John C. Fardon, and Leo G. Nutini
Magnetic Field and in situ Acetylocholinesterase in the Vagal Heart
System.............................................. 79
Wei Young
Effects of the Magnetic Field on Internal Organs and the Endocrine
System of Mice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 103
M. F. Barnothy and I. Siimegi
Changes in Sodium and Potassium Content of Urine from Mice
Subjected to Intense Magnetic Fields .................. 127
G. D. Hanneman
Changes in the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate of Rabbits Due to
Exposure of the Central Nervous System to a Constant
Magnetic Field ...................................... 137
A. I. Likhachev
ix
x Contents
Sensitivity of Some Plant Material to Magnetic Fields 147
Douglas W. Dunlop and Barbara L. Schmidt
Biomagnetic Hypotheses 171
Richard L. Liboff
The Effect of High-Gradient, High-Strength Magnetic Fields on the
Early Embryonic Development of Frogs ............... 177
Peter W. Neurath
Mutagenic Effects of Magnetic Fields on Drosophila melanogaster 189
T. R. Tegenkamp
The Effect of Magnetic Fields upon the Central Nervous System 207
Robert O. Becker
Investigations of the Reactions of Mammalian Brain to Static Mag-
netic Fields ......................................... 215
Ju. A. Kholodov, M. M. Alexandrovskaya, S. N. Lukjanova, and
N. S. Udarova
Effect of a Constant Magnetic Field on Invertebrate Neurons 227
D. R. Russell
Preference of Mice to Consume Food and Water in an Environment
of High Magnetic Field .............................. 233
D. R. Russell and H. G. Hedrick
Vectorcardiogram and Aortic Blood Flow of Squirrel Monkeys
(Saimiri sciureus) in a Strong Superconductive Electro-
magnet ............................................. 241
Dietrich E. Beischer
Magnetic Susceptibility of Biological Materials 261
F. E. Senftle and W. P. Hambright
Index.. . .. ..... ... .. . ... . ....... . .... . .. .... . ... . ..... ...... 307
INTRODUCTION
Madeleine F. Barnothy
University of Illinois College of Pharmacy
Chicago, Illinois
Biological processes are mainly complex chemical reactions. Chemical
properties result from the arrangement and motion of electrons and nuclei
in molecules, as determined by the interactions of the magnetic and electric
fields of these particles making up the molecules. The principles of chemistry
and biology are therefore understood in terms of electrodynamics and
quantum mechanics. These two theoretical tools enable us to analyze and
interpret chemical reactions. Consequently, electric and magnetic fields
would seem to be the natural experimental devices to be used to obtain
information regarding the basic phenomena themselves.
The biological medium in which these chemical reactions occur is a
weakly conducting electrolyte; this makes it difficult to establish a strong
electric field. External electric fields, therefore, seem to be restricted to
the investigation of phenomena in which the current conduction is of semi
conducting nature. This restriction does not apply to external magnetic
fields because the medium is essentially non magnetizable. The applied
magnetic field, therefore, is not affected by the continuum encountered in
biological systems, and thus seems to be ideally suited to be used as a
probe.
In view of the very small energy which a magnetic field can impart to a
biological system compared to the energy of thermal motion at room tem
perature, it is not surprising that most of the established biomagnetic effects
are observed in vivo, where a sort of built-in amplification mechanism in
the living biological system is utilized. This mechanism, interposed between
basic phenomena and the observed biomagnetic effect, complicates a clear
interpretation of the fundamental process itself. Nevertheless, there is hope
that when we have penetrated this new territory further, we will develop
techniques and instruments which will enable us to observe the effects of
magnetic fields on simpler systems.
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