A NEWLY DESIGNED EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM FOR EXPOSURE OF MAMMALIAN-CELLS TO EXTREMELY-LOW-FREQUENCY MAGNETIC-FIELDS

To examine the biological effects of extremely low frequency magnetic held (ELFMF), we have designed and manufactured a new equipment for lo ng-term and high-density exposure of cells to ELFMF. The ELFMF exposur e system consists of a generator of magnets with a bult-in CO2 incubat or, an alternating current (AC) power supply, a gas compressor and a t hermocontroller for the incubator, and a cooling unit for the magnets. The CO2 incubator made of acrylic resin is inserted into the inner-sp ace of the silicon steel strip-cores. In this system, the temperature of the incubator is maintained at 37+/-0.5 degrees C. The maximum magn etic Bur density on the exposure area of the incubator is 500 mT (T; t esla) at a current of 556 Arms (rms; root mean square) at 50 Hz. The l ong-term (up to 120 hr) exposure of 400 mT ELFMF did not affect the gr owth of both HL60RG and CCRF-CEM cells originated from human leukemia. The post-X-irradiation exposure of 400 mT ELFMF for 2 hr also did not affect the radiation sensitivity of GM0637 and TAT2SF cells originate d from a normal human and an ataxia telangiectasia patient.