A POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ULTRASOUND ON RNA-SYNTHESIS IN CULTURED AMNIOCYTES

The effect of both diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound on cellular R NA synthesis was investigated in amniocytes cultured in F-10 medium en riched with fetal calf serum. The rate of RNA synthesis was tested usi ng incorporation of H-3 uridine, which was added following the exposur e to acid insoluble RNA. Cultured amniocytes which were not exposed to ultrasound served as the control. Different results were obtained fol lowing the two ranges of exposure. A significant decrease in RNA synth esis was demonstrated immediately following diagnostic ultrasound and a certain increase in RNA synthesis was demonstrated soon after exposu re to therapeutic doses. These effects were transient and could not be shown 24 hours later. It is concluded that the routine use of ultraso und can not have any clinical implications on RNA synthesis.