Cristina Del Seppia

Pain perception and electromagnetic fields

A substantial body of evidence has accumulated showing that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) affects pain sensitivity (nociception) and pain inhibition (analgesia). Consistent inhibitory effects of acute exposures to various EMFs on analgesia have been demonstrated in most studies. This renders examinations of changes in the expression of analgesia and nociception a particularly valuable means of addressing the biological effects of and mechanisms underlying the actions of EMFs. Here we provide an overview of the effects of various EMFs on nociceptive sensitivity and analgesia, with particular emphasis on opioid-mediated responses. We also describe the analgesic effects of particular specific EMFs, the effects of repeated exposures to EMFs and magnetic shielding, along with the dependence of EMF effects on lighting conditions. We further consider some of the underlying cellular and biophysical mechanisms along with the clinical implications of these effects of various EMFs.

Exposure to a hypogeomagnetic field or to oscillating magnetic fields similarly reduce stress-induced analgesia in C57 male mice

Previous studies have shown that exposure to altered magnetic fields alters analgesic responses in a variety of species, including humans. Here we examined whether deprivation of the normally occurring geomagnetic field also affects stress-induced analgesia, by measuring the nociceptive responses of C57 male mice that were restraint-stressed in a hypogeomagnetic environment (inside a mu-metal box). Stress-induced analgesia was significantly suppressed in a manner comparable to that observed in mice that were either exposed to altered oscillating magnetic fields or treated with the prototypic opiate antagonist naloxone. These results represent the first piece of evidence that a period in a hypogeomagnetic environment inhibits stress-induced analgesia.

Effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on electroencephalographic alpha activity, dental pain threshold and cardiovascular parameters in humans

Recent studies indicate that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MFs) influences human electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha activity and pain perception. In the present study we analyse the effect on electrical EEG activity in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) and on nociception in 40 healthy male volunteers after 90-min exposure of the head to 50 Hz ELF MFs at a flux density of 40 or 80 microT in a double-blind randomized sham-controlled study. Since cardiovascular regulation is functionally related to pain modulation, we also measured blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during treatment. Alpha activity after 80 microT magnetic treatment almost doubled compared to sham treatment. Pain threshold after 40 microT magnetic treatment was significantly lower than after sham treatment. No effects were found for BP and HR. We suggest that these results may be explained by a modulation of sensory gating processes through the opioidergic system, that in turn is influenced by magnetic exposure.

Effects of magnetic field exposure on open field behaviour and nociceptive responses in mice.

Results of previous studies have shown that nociceptive sensitivity in male C57 mice is enhanced by exposure to a regular 37 Hz or an irregularly varying (<1 Hz) electromagnetic field. In order to test whether these fields affect more generally mouse behaviour, we placed Swiss CD-1 mice in a novel environment (open field test) and exposed them for 2 h to these two different magnetic field conditions. Hence, we analysed how duration and time course of various behavioural patterns (i.e. exploration, rear, edge chew, self-groom, sit, walk and sleep) and nociceptive sensitivity had been affected by such exposure. Nociceptive sensitivity was significantly greater in magnetically treated mice than in controls. The overall time spent in exploratory activities was significantly shorter in both magnetically treated groups (< 1 Hz, 33% and 37 Hz, 29% of total time), than in controls (42%). Conversely, the time spent in sleeping was markedly longer in the treated groups (both 27% of total time) than in controls (11%). These results suggest that exposure to altered magnetic fields induce a more rapid habituation to a novel environment.

Pigeon homing: evidence against reliance on magnetic information picked up en route to release sites

The present study aims to ascertain the nature of the disturbances in initial orientation that have repeatedly been reported in pigeons after transportation to a release site in an altered magnetic field or in the dark. To test whether this effect is caused by an interference in the navigational mechanism or is attributable to an emotional component of homing behaviour, we have recorded the homing behaviour of pigeons injected with the tranquillizer promazine. Birds transported in an oscillating magnetic field or in light-proof containers displayed the expected decrease in homeward directedness, whereas those that had also been injected with promazine oriented like untreated controls. These results show that pigeons do not rely on magnetic information picked up en route to orientate homewards. Magnetic treatments and light deprivation during transportation only appear to affect birds’ emotional state, and, as a result, their initial orientation.

Prolonged hypotensive and bradycardic effects of passive mandibular extension: evidence in normal volunteers.

Various procedures involving stimulations of facial regions are known to induce so-called trigemino-cardiac reflexes that entail a decrease of heart rate and blood pressure. We here report the effects of a specific stimulation that consists in a submaximal passive mandibular extension obtained by means of a dilatator applied for 10 minutes between the upper and lower incisor teeth, associated with partial active masticatory movements. Blood pressure and heart rate were determined in 18 young normal volunteers by Omron M4, before (20 minutes), during (10 minutes) and after mandibular extension (80 minutes) and under control conditions (same overall duration without stimulation). While control values remained stable, mandibular extension was followed by a progressive decline of both blood pressure (up to about 12/11 mmHg) and heart rate (up to about 13 bpm), statistically confirmed by ANOVA both on absolute values and on changes from basal values. The decline of systolic blood pressure and heart rate significantly correlated with basal values. The present findings indicate that submaximal opening of the mouth, associated to partial masticatory movements, induces a prolonged reduction of blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive volunteers.

Trigeminocardiac Reflex by Mandibular Extension on Rat Pial Microcirculation: Role of Nitric Oxide

In the present study we have extended our previous findings about the effects of 10 minutes of passive mandibular extension in anesthetized Wistar rats. By prolonging the observation time to 3 hours, we showed that 10 minutes mandibular extension caused a significant reduction of the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate respect to baseline values, which persisted up to 160 minutes after mandibular extension. These effects were accompanied by a characteristic biphasic response of pial arterioles: during mandibular extension, pial arterioles constricted and after mandibular extension dilated for the whole observation period. Interestingly, the administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone abolished the vasoconstriction observed during mandibular extension, while the administration of Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, abolished the vasodilation observed after mandibular extension. Either drug did not affect the reduction of mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate induced by mandibular extension. By qRT-PCR, we also showed that neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene expression was significantly increased compared with baseline conditions during and after mandibular extension and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression markedly increased at 2 hours after mandibular extension. Finally, western blotting detected a significant increase in neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression. In conclusion mandibular extension caused complex effects on pial microcirculation involving opioid receptor activation and nitric oxide release by both neurons and endothelial vascular cells at different times.

Simulation of the geomagnetic field experienced by the International Space Station in its revolution around the Earth: effects on psychophysiological responses to affective picture viewing.

There is evidence suggesting that exposure to an abnormal magnetic environment may produce psychophysiological effects related to abnormalities in responses to stress. This may be of relevance for space medicine where astronauts are exposed to a magnetic field different from that exerted by the Earth. Aim of this study was to assess how the exposure of the head to a magnetic field simulating the one encountered by the International Space Station (ISS) during a single orbit (90 min) around the Earth affects the cardiovascular and psychophysiological parameters. Twenty-four human volunteers were studied double blindly in random order under sham and magnetic exposure. During exposure, the persons were shown a set of pictures of different emotional content while subjective self-rating, skin conductance (SC), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) were measured. In addition, BP, HR, and tooth pain threshold were assessed before and after exposure. While subjects were under magnetic exposure, skin conductance was strongly differentiated (F(2,36)=22.927; p=0.0001), being high during emotionally involving (positive and negative) pictures and low during neutral pictures. Conversely, when subjects were under sham exposure, no significant differences were observed. There was, however, a trend for higher heart rate during picture viewing under magnetic exposure as compared to sham exposure. No effects were found for the other variables. These results suggest that an abnormal magnetic field that simulates the one encountered by ISS orbiting around the Earth may enhance autonomic response to emotional stimuli.

A New Interpretation of the Effect of Magnetic Treatments on the Initial Orientation of Homing Pigeons

Reliance on information derived from the earth’s magnetic field has often been proposed to account for the remarkable feats of navigation observed in many animals, which are capable of such impressive orientational performances as migrating for long distances towards remote targets or going back home when released from distant, previously unvisited sites1.

Investigations of a simulated geomagnetic field experienced by the international space station on attentional performance

We have previously reported that the exposure to an abnormal magnetic field simulating the one encountered by the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting around the Earth may enhance autonomic response to emotional stimuli. Here we report the results of the second part of that study which tested whether this field also affects cognitive functions. Twenty-four volunteers participated in the study, 12 exposed to the natural geomagnetic field and 12 to the magnetic field encountered by ISS. The test protocol consisted of a set of eight tests chosen from a computerized test battery for the assessment of attentional performance. The duration of exposure was 90 min. No effect of exposure to ISS magnetic field was observed on attentional performance.