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Exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic field changes the efficiency of the scorpion alpha toxin

Overview of attention for article published in Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, September 2015
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  • High Attention Score compared to outputs of the same age and source (84th percentile)

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Title
Exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic field changes the efficiency of the scorpion alpha toxin
Published in
Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, September 2015
DOI 10.1186/s40409-015-0040-9
Pubmed ID
Authors

Milena Jankowska, Agnieszka Pawlowska-Mainville, Maria Stankiewicz, Justyna Rogalska, Joanna Wyszkowska

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) is produced by electric power transmission lines and electronic devices of everyday use. Some phenomena are proposed as "first effects" of ELF-EMF: the discrete changes in the membrane potential and the increase of the calcium channel activity as well as the intracellular concentration of Ca(2+). Interaction of the scorpion alpha toxin with the sodium channel depends on the orientation of the charges and may be perturbed by changes in the membrane polarization. The toxin induces overexcitability in the nervous system and an increase in the neurotransmitters released with different consequences, mainly the paralysis of muscles. We assumed that the exposure to ELF-EMF 0.7 mT will change the effects of the insect selective scorpion alpha toxin (recombinant LqhαIT from Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus) at the level of the cercal nerve function, the synaptic transmission and on the level of entire insect organism. Taking into account the compensatory mechanisms in organisms, we tested in addition ten times higher ELF-EMF on whole insects. Experiments were performed in vivo on cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and in vitro - on isolated cockroach abdominal nerve cord with cerci. In biotests, the effects of LqhαIT (10(-8) M) were estimated on the basis of the insect ability to turn back from dorsal to ventral side. Three groups were compared: the control one and the two exposed to ELF-EMF - 0.7 and 7 mT. Bioelectrical activity of the cercal nerve and of the connective nerve that leaves the terminal abdominal ganglion was recorded using extracellular electrodes. LqhαIT (5 × 10(-8) M) induced modifications of neuronal activity that were observed in the control cockroach preparations and in the ones exposed to ELF-EMF (0.7 mT). The exposure to ELF-EMF was carried out using coils with a size appropriate to the examined objects. The exposure to ELF-EMF (0.7 mT) modified the effects of LqhαIT (5 × 10(-8) M) on activity of the cercal nerve and of the connective nerve. We observed a decrease of the toxin effect on the cercal nerve activity, but the toxic effect of LqhαIT on the connective nerve was increased. Biotests showed that toxicity of LqhαIT (10(-8) M) on cockroaches was reduced by the exposure to ELF-EMF (0.7 and 7 mT). The exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF modified the mode of action of the anti-insect scorpion alpha toxin LqhαIT at cellular level of the cockroach nervous system and in biotests. Toxin appeared as a usefull tool in distinguishing between the primary and the secondary effects of ELF-EMF.

X Demographics

X Demographics

The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 6 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 31 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 31 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 5 16%
Student > Bachelor 4 13%
Student > Ph. D. Student 3 10%
Student > Doctoral Student 2 6%
Researcher 2 6%
Other 5 16%
Unknown 10 32%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 7 23%
Neuroscience 5 16%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 4 13%
Engineering 2 6%
Nursing and Health Professions 1 3%
Other 2 6%
Unknown 10 32%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 5. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 30 May 2022.
All research outputs
#7,205,554
of 25,374,917 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
#136
of 539 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#80,885
of 286,342 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
#2
of 13 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,374,917 research outputs across all sources so far. This one has received more attention than most of these and is in the 71st percentile.
So far Altmetric has tracked 539 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 5.6. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 74% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 286,342 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 71% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 13 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done well, scoring higher than 84% of its contemporaries.