Date of Award
2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Medical Biophysics
Supervisor
Dr. Jeff Carson
Second Advisor
Dr. Frank S. Prato
Third Advisor
Dr. Savita Dhanvantari
Abstract
Human exposure to electromagnetic fields has prompted investigations into possible effects of static magnetic fields (SMF)s on cellular processes. Discrepancies still remain between studies however, and are likely due to endpoint analysis on potentially small biological effects. The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential effect of SMF exposure on biological systems using real-time methods that are intrisicaly more sensitive than endpoint measurements. This research was divided into two main studies. The first study evaluated basal and activated levels of cytosolic free calcium in HL-60 cells before, during and after a 15 minute 100 mT SMF exposure. The second study used a heat shock protein (hsp70)/luciferase reporter system in NIH3T3 cells to detect changes in heat shock promoter activation before, during and after a 15 minute 100 mT SMF exposure. The first study found no effects of SMF exposure on resting or activated cytosolic free calcium concentration. However, a 100 mT SMF significantly decreased the activation of the heat shock protein promoter, but only when field exposure was combined with an additional heat insult.
Recommended Citation
Rozanski, Camilla, "EFFECTS OF 100 mT STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE ON CYTOSOLIC FREE Ca2+ LEVELS AND HSP70 REPORTER GENE EXPRESSION" (2008). Digitized Theses. 4189.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4189