Synaptosome behavior is unaffected by weak pulsed electromagnetic fields

The present study examined the effect on rat cortical synaptosomes of a 2 h exposure to 50-Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) with a peak magnetic field of 2 mT. We measured modifications of synaptosomal mitochondrial respiration rate, ATP production, membrane potential, intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ concentration and free iron release. The O2 consumption remained unvaried in exposed synaptosomes at about 2 nM O2/min/mg proteins; ATP production was also unchanged. The intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ concentration decreased slowly and there was a slight, but non-significant, depolarisation of the synaptosomal membrane. Finally, the free iron release by synaptosomal suspensions, a useful predictor of neuro-developmental outcome, remained unchanged after EMF exposure. On the whole, our results indicate that the physiological behaviour of cortical synaptosomes is not affected by weak pulsed EMFs. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.