O. Zur et al., A POSSIBLE EFFECT OF ULTRASOUND ON RNA-SYNTHESIS IN CULTURED AMNIOCYTES, Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 72(4), 1993, pp. 243-245
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.