EFFECTS OF REPEATED EXPOSURE TO HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC-DISCHARGES AND LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS ON CULTURED MOUSE P3X63AG8 PLASMACYTOMA CELLS

When cells of the mouse plasmocytoma P3x63Ag8 were repeatedly exposed to high-voltage electric discharges (1.34 KV/cm, 1 sec between pulses; time constant, 25 mu sec), they fused into multinuclear cells. Using the same procedure, myeloma cells were induced to form heterokarions b y fusion with human or mouse lymphocytes, and to internalize formaldeh yde-treated erythrocytes. Under optimal conditions, cells were fused e xtensively without substantial loss. Exposure of the cells to low-freq uency (50 Hz) sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (magnetic field amplit ude of 200 mu T) did not appear to perturb membrane substructures in s uch a way as to influence the fusogenic effect induced in high electri c fields.