Biophysical Properties of Heart Muscle under the Effect of Magnetic Field and /or), gamma-Radiation

The biophysical properties (Na+ and K+ contents and dielectric properties) of heart muscle have been studied under the effect of 200 Gauss, extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field (50 Hz), gamma-radiation (4 Gy) and the combination of them. On exposing the mice to ELF magnetic field, for different periods (3 hrs/day for 3 consecutive days), Na+ and K+ concentration in cardiac muscle, showed a very highly significant Na+ increase and K+ decreases relative to control values, in addition to very highly significant variations in all dielectric parameters (permittivity (epsilon), conductivity (sigma)and loss coefficient (tan delta), were indicated at all exposure periods(3,6 and 9 hours). Combined exposure of mice to gamma-radiation (4 Gy) followed by ELF (6 hrs,3 h/day for 2 consecutive days) indicated that ELF, has an antagonistic effect against the individual effect of each exposure separately , on both the ion contents and dielectric parameters. The results indicated that the time varying magnetic field exerted a physical influence on mice heart due to the induced electrical current, which flows in the aqueous medium surrounding the cells. This current can transfer perceptible energy, which may change membrane channels, enzyme, membrane conformation, receptor protein and counter ion. This may alter the electric charge milieu and affect both the ionic content and the dielectric properties of the heart muscle