LOW-POWER LASER IRRADIATION ENHANCES MIGRATION AND NEURITE SPROUTING OF CULTURED RAT EMBRYONAL BRAIN-CELLS

We used fetal brain cells grown in tissue culture to study some basic features of the interaction between low-power laser irradiation and bi ological systems. Seven- to nine-day-old rat fetal brain cell aggregat es in culture were subjected to direct focused irradiation of low-powe r helium-neon laser (0.3 mW, 632.8 nm). An 8-minute dose of laser irra diation enhanced the appearance of brain cells around the treated aggr egates, as monitored under the microscope of the stained cultures. Two and three doses of laser irradiations were correlated with 97% and 14 2% respective increases of the numbers of cells surrounding the aggreg ates. To identify the type of cells grown in the outgrowth of the trea ted aggregate, specific tetanus-anti-tetanus antibodies were used. Rho damine-labeled antibodies bound to receptors on cells indicated massiv e neurite sprouting and outgrowth of migrating brain cells in culture.