Incubating quail embryos in a magnetic field resulted in accelerated somite growth. Twenty % of the experimental embryos in one series of experiments exhibited reversed torsion. The heterogenous magnetic field as opposed to the homogenous magnetic field was more effective in causing these effects. The theory of magnetic action on a biological system is discussed

Knutson, Thomas

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The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis in Quail

University of Northern Iowa

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science Volume 76 Annual Issue Article 67 1969 The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis in Quail Thomas Knutson Drake University Let us know how access to this document benefits you Copyright ©1969 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias Recommended Citation Knutson, Thomas (1969) "The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis in Quail," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 76(1), 510-516. Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol76/iss1/67 This Research is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa Academy of Science at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uni.edu. The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis in Quail1 THOMAS KNuTSON Abstract. Incubating quail embryos in a magnetic field resulted in ac-celerated somite growth. Twenty % of the experimental embryos in one series of experiments exhibited reversed torsion. The heterogenous magnetic field as opposed to the homogenous magnetic field was more effective in causing these effects. The theory of magnetic action on a biological system is discussed. The study of life, as it is affected by magnetic fields, proceeded slowly prior to the 1930's, but the discovery of electromagnetic resonance principles stimulated more investigation because of the stronger magnetic fields possible. Much of the new data is equiv-ocal, showing inhibitory and accelerative effects. In addition, rela-tively little information is available on avian embryos. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to add information concerning the effects of a magnetic field on avian cmbryogenesis. :Maximo Valentinuzzi (1966) presented some essential concepts about magnetism's effects. These broad concepts show many pos-sible affectors for biological responses. This may explain the fact that there are many theories accounting for specific results, but no clear reasons can be given for the contradictory data. His concepts were: 1. The effects of a magnetic field occur at the molecular kinetic level. (The type of magnetic field, the type of molecule, and its energy state are all interrelated.) 2. Paramagnetism is the basis for the mechanisms. (Electric charges on a molecule make it paramagnetic.) 3. Free radicles, which are often paramagnetic, represent the molecular entities which interrelate externally applied mag-netic fields and biological actions. (Paramagnetic and diamagnetic particles are separated to higher and lower strength magnetic fields respectively.) 4. Molecular, energetic actions, integrated in time and space, are the basis for the effects. 5. Physical forces must have a specific magnitude for biological effects to occur. (The magnetic field must have a certain minimum force to overcome the inherent kinetic energy of the system.) 1 Contribution #28 from the Biology Department of Drake University. The work was supported by Undergraduate Research participation Grant G/4164. 510 1Knutson: The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis inPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19691969] ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECT 511 6. The type of field is important. (Homogenous fields have uniform intensities over the whole field, while the heterogenous field strength varies from place to place. This variance makes it possible to separate para- and diamagnetic molecules.) 7. Cybernetic mechanisms are important-that is, chemical or mechanical methods of control and communication in liv-ing organisms. (A magnetic field can affect a chemical reaction by (a) direct influence or equilibria and rates of reactions; (b) direct influence of magnetic energy on chem-ical bonding: ( c) the indirect effects of fields resulting from physical forces acting on a system (Barnothy, 1964 p. 82). Starting from these concepts, Valentinuzzi formulated a theory for biological slowdown based on rotating, paramagnetic free rad-icles controlled by the type and strength of the magnetic field and the chemical make-up of the biological material. He theorized that: l. Enzymatic reactions are necessary. 2. Intermediate complexes between enzymes and substrates are needed. 3. The complex rotates and is a free radicle. 4. The above complex has specific reactive sites. 5. The complex combines with structures at reactive sites. 6. Cybernetic mechanisms operate. (Valentinuzzi, 1966) Valentinuzzi's concepts and theories deal with only one para-meter of effects-the slowdown of biological activity. The following experiments, recorded in the literature, show a range of effects, but have characteristics that can be related to Valentinuzzi's concepts. Gross and Smith ( 1961) reported that in mice subjected to a heterogenous field, wound healing was reduced by 20%. They postulated that RNA and enzyme synthesis was inhibited. This ex-periment shows that fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis was markedly reduced and may be related to Valentinuzzi's theory of inhibition. Studies on Drosop.hila melanogaster by Mulay and Mulay ( 1964) show that a magnetic field causes typical mutations, but they are nongenetic. It is postulated that mutations were created by faulty chemical reactions changed by the same mechanism that caused inhibition. A magnetic field can affect the genetic code, and Barnothy ( 1964 p. 81 ) has lengthened the life expectancy of exposed mice by stabilizing mutation reactions. Presumably, mutation reactions in a magnetic field arc stabilized according to quantum mechanics. Thus, fewer cells die, and because normal enzyme-catalyzed reac-tions can continue, life goes on longer and more efficiently. 2Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 76 [1969], No. 1, Art. 67https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol76/iss1/67512 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE [Vol. 76 EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL Coturnix coturnix japonica were chosen for this study because of their availability in the Drake University laboratories, and for the small egg size. Eggs average 3.1 cm long by 2.4 cm wide, and are thus suitable for the relatively small size of the magnet's poles. As seen in Figure 1, the incubator (with cover removed) con-tained both experimental and control eggs but was large enough so that no stray magnetism reached the control eggs. The control group was surrounded with metal plates similar to the magnet's poles to simulate the conditions existing on the experimental eggs. The type of magnet used (Fig. 1) was a Cenco Model K (Cat. No. 796375 ) , an air cooled, aluminum-foil electromagnet with a variable gap between the poles. With flat pole faces and a narrow gap, it is capable of approximately 10,000 gauss. With tapered pole faces, which give a heterogenous field, 16,000 gauss are produced at the center of the pole. It is a DC magnet and has a static field traveling from right to left as opposed to an alternating field. Fig. 1. The incubator (shown with cover removed) contains both experi-mental (left) and control eggs (right) but is large enough so that no magnetism reaches the control eggs. The heterogenous pole pieces are shown. METHODS Embryos were incubated in a magnetic field for 48 hours and 3Knutson: The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis inPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19691969] ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECT 513 then observed. If an effect was noticed, other embryos were in-cubated for forty-eight hours but were kept in the magnetic field only for 0-12, 12-24, 24-36, or 36-48 hours. This tested the effects of magnetism at specific periods. Homogenous fields were tested first, but no significant results were observed. The heterogenous field was then tested. Standardization tests involved incubating experimental and con-trol eggs in position without turning on the magnet. In magnetism tests, a control group was incubated at the same time as the experi-mental group. Control groups were always compared to their cor-responding experimental groups to eliminate error from temper-ature variation. Both groups had separate thermostats; their tem-peratures were equal (-+- .5C) but varied within a range of 36.5-39.50C from day to day. DrscussroN The data (Table 1) reveals that a homogenous magnetic field up to 9,000 gauss does not affect the development of the embryos as much as a heterogenous field. To get effects in incubated em-bryos with a homogenous field, one must provide a high field in-tensity because of the increased kinetic energy associated with the incubation temperatures (Reno and Nutini, 1963). It was not possible to create very strong homogenous fields, but in heterogenous fields, field gradients of 1,500 to 7,000 guass/cm induced effects. A 5.6% increase in the somite number of experi-mental embryos was observed in homogenous fields, but this is not as significant as the 13.2% increase in the heterogenous fields. Ex-perimental eggs used for standardization tests had 2.2% fewer somites than the controls. Embryos exposed to the heterogenous Table 1 I. % Somite Growth of Experimental as Compared to Control Embryos Standardization tests (no magnetic field) -2.2% Homogenous field tests (up to 9,000 gauss) +5.6% Heterogenous field tests (up to 12,000 gauss) -\-13.2% II. Torsion Reversals Standardization 2 of 26 = 7.7% Homogenous Fields control 0 of 42 = 0.0% expt. 1 of 46 = 2.1% Heterogenous Fields 2.3% All heterogenous field tests: control 2 of 86 = expt. 10 of 100 = 10.0% 48 hours in magnetic field: control 2 of 38 = 5.2% expt. 8 of 40 = 20.0% 12 hours out of 43, in field: control 0 of 48 = 0.0% expt. 2 of 60 = 3.3% All controls 4 of 154 = 2.6% 4Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 76 [1969], No. 1, Art. 67https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol76/iss1/67514 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE [Vol. 76 field for a 0-12 hour or 12-24 hour period during 48 hours of in-cubation show an acceleration of growth even though no, or only a few, somites were formed while the magnet was on. A similar latency was seen in nervous system effects (Kholodov, 1964) . It is suggested that the system is changed chemically and does not re-turn to normal immediately after the magnetic field is turned off. Therefore, when an event like somite formation occurs, the changed system develops differently for a time. The 0-12 and 12-24 hour tests show about a 10% somite acceleration while the 24-36 hour test shows a 16% increase. The 36-48 hour exposures showed a Fig. 2. Embryo Torsion: normal (above ), facing right; abnormal (below ), facing left. 5Knutson: The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis inPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19691969] ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECT 515 similar degree of somite increase, but an insufficient number was tested to fix an exact level. No explanation for growth acceleration has been found in the literature, and little data has been gathered about accelerative effects. Perakis ( 194 7) reported that the in vitro growth of chicken embryo heart fibroblasts was stimulated by 24% in an inhomog-enous field of 1,000 gauss. Accelerative effects might be explained indirectly by Barnothy's aging delay hypothesis. If the normal growth rate is constant, but fewer cells mutate and die in a magnet field, the growth rate would appear to be increased. This specula-tion is supported by the fact that actively dividing tissue is general-ly more susceptible to mutation. Teratological differences between control and experimental groups might indicate fewer mutations in the experimentals, though other causes are also important in ter-atology. A number of embryos were seen in a reversed position (Fig. 2) . Reversed torsions were caused only by heterogenous fields. Fifty % of the reversals occurred at egg position number 2 (Fig. 3) . The importance of egg position in the magnetic field is not understood, but further tests using different egg orientations might clarify this Fig. 3. Heterogenous pole pieces and egg orientation: side view (left) and front view (right). Fifty pe;ce~~ of the torsi?n ~evt;rsal~ oci;urred at egg position #2. The s1gn1ficance of this d1stnbut1on 1s not known. point. Length of exposure to the field was important; 3.3% of the embryos exposed for 12 hours and 20% of those exposed for 48 hours showed reversed torsion. This suggests that latent effects are 6Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 76 [1969], No. 1, Art. 67https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol76/iss1/67516 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENOE [Vol. 76 not important in this phenomenon. Unless a consistant relation between embryo orientation and the direction of the field can be shown in future tests, a chemical mode of action seems very prob-able. BIBLIOGRAPHY BARNOTHY, M. F. 1964. A Possible Effect of the Magnetic Field Upon the Genetic Code. pp. 80-89. In M. R. Barnothy, Biological Effects of Mag-netic Fields. Plenum Press, New York. GRoss, L. & L. W. SMITH. 1964. Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration, pp. 140-145. In M. F. Barnothy, Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields. Plenum Press, New York. KHoLonov, Yu. A. 1964. Effects on the Central Nervous System. pp. 196-200. In M. F. Bamothy, Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields. Plenum Press, New York. MuLAY, I. L. & L. N. MuLAY. 1964. Effect on Drosophila Melanogaster and S-37 Tumor Cells, pp. 146-169. In M. F. Bamothy, Biological Ef-fects of Magnetic Fields. Plenum Press, New York. PERAKIS, N. 1947. On the Growth of Fibroblast Cultures in a Magnetic Field. Acta Anatomica. 4: 225-228. RENO, V. & L. G. NuTINI. 1963. Effects of Magnetic Fields on Tissue Res-piration. Nature. 198: 204-205. VALENTINuzzr, M. 1966. A Survey of Theoretical Approaches to Magnetic Growth Inhibition. Am. ]our. Med. Elect. 5 ( 1): 35-39. 7Knutson: The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis inPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 1969

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The Effect of an Electromagnetic Field on Early Emhryogenesis in Quail

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