Effects of Repeated Exposure to High-Voltage Electric Discharges and Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Cultured Mouse P3×63Ag8 Plasmocytoma Cells

Abstract

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 μsec), they fused into multinuclear cells. Using the same procedure, myeloma cells were induced to form heterokarions by fusion with human or mouse lymphocytes, and to internalize formaldehyde-treated erythrocytes. Under optimal conditions, cells were fused extensively without substantial loss. Exposure of the cells to low-frequency (50 Hz) sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (magnetic field amplitude of 200 μT) did not appear to perturb membrane substructures in such a way as to influence the fusogenic effect induced in high electric fields.