Structural changes in cell membranes after ionizing electromagnetic field exposure

Ionizing radiation damages chemical structures in biological tissues mainly through the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Consequences on the cell's transcriptional mechanisms are widely investigated but cannot account for the rapid lethal effects in victims of accidental high-dose radiation exposure. ROI-mediated structural damage of cell membranes through lipid peroxidation can lead to increased ion permeability followed by the loss of ion-homeostasis and cell death. We monitored radiation-induced changes in the morphology of isolated skeletal muscle cells. During the first two hours after gamma irradiation large blebs were formed on the surface of muscle cells. These blebs are the initiation point for a successive total collapse of the cells over a time period of about 15 min similar to Ca/sup 2+/-influx mediated cell contraction. Acute radiation-induced death as well as possible relations to lipid peroxidation, cell membrane permeability increases, irradiation-induced apoptosis are discussed. Our ongoing research on ionizing electromagnetic field effects on cell membranes and the induced structural phenomena are closely linked to pertinent membrane damage by some nonionizing electromagnetic fields and ionized gases.