Part 2: Cellular Reception and Emission of Electromagnetic Signals

BIOELECTRICITY AND ELECTROTHERAPY TOWARDS A NEW PARADIGM?

Part 2: Cellular Reception and Emission of Electromagnetic Signals / I Plasma membrane

ROBERT A CHARMAN MCSP DipTP Senior Teacher, Cardiff School of Physiotherapy Microtrabecular

A SIGNAL is information in coded format. This information, or message, cannot be released from the signal if the receiver has no means of recognising the format and reading the code. In communication systems it is information or pattern that is the key. Colour codes for 'stop' 'go' or 'yes' 'no', for example, merely require that the recipient knows the relationship of colour for command, or colour for response. The only energy required is the minimum necessary to trigger and transmit the signal, and then receive and decode it. The hypothesis relating the various aspects of bioelectricity is that cells can receive, decode, and act upon, electrical, magnetic and acoustic signals which are carrying information on the lines of 'such and such has, or is, happening' or 'on receipt of this signal do this'. Present knowledge and theory on this subject is comprised of a central framework of generally agreed fact and theory interweaved with disputed findings and hypotheses. In this it is like most disciplines where physical science and biological processes interact. Much of the theoretical modelling is on the edge of biophysical and molecular biological knowledge in its interpretation of cellular structures and their function in terms of electrical and electronic physics. In part one of this series the cell was considered in terms of electrical components and electrical activity. This bioelectric approach is the basis for considering the various theories of possible electrical and/or magnetic signal interaction with cells. It involves looking at cellular activity from an unfamiliar viewpoint and the main purpose of this article is to introduce these ideas without, at this stage, sidetracking into qualifying 'ifs' and 'buts'. Such discussion will arise in later articles. The main question for consideration is 'What can the cell "see" and interpret of its environment?' In other words 'What is meaningful?' Related questions are 'How does it "see"? ' 'How does it internalise what it has "seen"? ' and 'How does it respond?' Does it, for example, have distance receqtors? Or must everything be 'washed up' against the sides of the cell wall? Sensory Organs of the Cell

The sensory surface organs of the cell consist of the plasma membrane proteins together with the extensive outer branching of glycolipid arrays (see part 1, figure 2). The inner 'proprioceptors' are the organelles and nucleus. They are all linked to an everchanging network of microtubules, microfilaments and gossamer-fine interconnecting fibrils which form the microtrabecular lattice (Hameroff, 1988). Figure 1 shows the three-dimensional cytoskeletal scaffolding which divides the cytoplasm into an infinite number of latticed chambers. The cytoskeleton

physiotherapy,September 1990. vd 76, no 9

;)?

Mitochondrion+

m salP- \

membrane

Fig 1: Microtubule and microfilament lattice which connects every region of cell in a three-dimensional mesh (after Thibodeau, 1987)

moves and positions the organelles where they are required and ensures that related enzyme systems are grouped in clustered attachment to the filament framework (Alberts er a/, 1989). Every cell surface carries charge, be it membrane or filament. Every rodlike structure is a dipole and the more extended ones, like microtubules, are constructed from charged dipole units (dimers). This means, in effect, that cellular structures have similar properties t o electrets (insulators carrying a permanent charge analogous to permanent magnets). These properties include piezo-electric effect (transducing mechanical deformation of shape into change of surface electric charge) and electro-piezo effect (converting changing electric surface charge into altered shape, or conformation). The term 'dipole' applies when t w o equal and opposite point charges (electric dipole) or magnetic poles (magnetic dipole) are separated by a short distance (Uvarov and Isaacs, 1986). Rotating dipoles have moment which is the product of the charge and the distance between the two. Dipoles can be a property of physical structures, such as a protein or bar magnet, or close coupling through space, for example, opposite charges moving across the plasma membrane. Dipoles are rotated by oscillating fields and will have preferred resonant frequencies according to their moment (Frohlich, 1988b). Contact recognition of incoming molecules, by 'lock and key' fitting of extracellular molecules into surface plasma protein and glycolipid charged sites, is probably the most studied sensory cell mechanism (Alberts era/, 1989). The fit must be exact but the message will be different if competitive molecules have the same key but carry different instructions. An important point here is that recognition takes place before contact as the incoming molecule is guided t o its destination by the interaction of the electrical fields extending from the t w o reactive sites. It is probable that appropriately shaped waveforms and particular frequencies can also activate molecular receptor sites. The nervous system has retinal receptors which are specialised to receive and respond t o light, which is a very limited subdivision of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum.

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The average excitable and non-excitable membrane cells appear unspecialised for response to EM signals, and it is this apparent lack of receptor mechanisms which is addressed by investigators into bioelectricity. On theoretical grounds their argument is that the cell contains many elements of electrical circuitry and generates its ow n currents and fields. In principle, therefore, it should be responsive t o incoming EM signals in an analogous way to tuning a radio. If signals are weak there should be amplifying

Subdivision

Schumann waves Respiratory rate Heart rate EEG frequencies Nerve impulses Tekcommunicetions Thunderstorm detection Radio telegraphy Navigation aids AM radio

W

radio

ELF

---VLF

---LF ----MF- - -

Radar including:

Microwave Millimetre Sub-millimetre

0 Hz

Om

Constant current iontophoresis

1 Hz

3 108 m

10 Hz 50 Hz mains 100 HZ = 102 HZ

3 lo7 m

1 KHZ = 103 HZ

3 1oS m = 300 km

10 KHZ = 104 HZ

3 lo4 m = 30 km

100 KHZ = lo5 HZ

3 lo3 m = 3 km

3 106 m = 3,000 Kn

HF

10 MHZ = 107 HZ

3 10 m = 30 m

VHF

100 MHz = 108 HZ

3m

UHF

1 GHZ = 109 HZ

3 10-1 m = 30 cm

__--

4 KHz lnterferential (medium frequency)

Microwave diathermy (2.45 GHz 12.25 cm)

Circumference

1 THz = 10'' HZ

3 i04m = 300 pm

----

10 THz = 10" HZ

3

m

100 THZ =

3

m = 3 pm

3

m

1014

HZ

Light

----

1 PHZ =

1015

HZ

UVR 10 PHz = 10l6 HZ

lonlring radiations Radiography/ Radiotherapy (mutations/ cell-death) Unit S a l e kilo mega giga

tera peta exa

mih'

K M G T P E

m

103 lo6 lo9 10" 1015 10l8

I- X-Ray

I

-- I

Membrane

Microtubule

= 30 pm

= 300 nm

laser wavelengths

950 904 830 660 nm

UVR-A 400-315 nm UVR-B 315-280 nm UVR-C 280

1 EHz = 10l8 HZ 10 EHZ = 1019 HZ

rays

100 EHz = 1020 HZ

fields

-Eh

-

-------

100 PHZ = 1017 HZ

Gamma ray; Cosmic

eIectric

H21 A B S 0 R P T I 0 N

Model Cell Resonences

100 GHz = 10" HZ

Infra-red

Non-ionising radiations

Oscillatory

Shortwave diathermy (27.12 M Hz 11 m)

EHF

Coherent oscillations (laser)

EM SPECTRUM SOURCES

Ultrasound (0.75 to 3 MHz)

SHF

----

lnterferential 'beat' frequencies

IDC muscle stimulation Faradic stimulation TENS

10 GHz = 10'' HZ

----

1

Electmtberapy Modalities

I

3 102 m = 300 m

_---

Television

The chart below presents a central outline of the EM spectrum with related telecommunication bands in the left-

1 MHz = lo6 HZ

----

FM radio

Electrical Cell Modelling

Wawlengtb

Freqcency

ULF

----

mechanisms. On practical grounds they consider that there is considerable experimental and therapeutic evidence t o show that ordinary cells do alter function in a measurable way after exposure to various electrical andlor magnetic signals.

Ksy to Subdivisions , 1000 U = ultra Radio Radar IR Light Million E = extremely 103x106 v =very 106 x 106 s = super Cum?showing wavelength energy 103 x 106 x 106 L = low released on absorption measured 106 x lo6 x lo6 H = high in electron volts (1.6 x 10-19 joules) F = frequency

Electron volt is energy gained by electron accelerated through pd of

3 r

e

- -----Molecular vibration

Outer orbit electron jumps (quantum energy) Photons Inner orbit electron jumps

.

to Nuclear reactions

I

UVR

1OOOth

millionth 10-3 x 10-6 nanq n picot p lo-'* 10-6 x 10-~ x 10" x lo6 femto f atto a lo-" 10" x 10-6 x (Angstrom A lo-'' = 10-4 x 10-6) micrp

510

p

fi@*py,

September 1990. Vd 76, no 9

Charged membrane Farrier to LF field

Fig 2: (A) Cell membrane modelled as an electric circuit where R, is the membrane resistance and C, is the membrane capacitance. (B) Whole cell modelled as an electric circuit where R, is extracellular electrolyte resistance, C, is membrane capacitance and R, is combined membrane and cytoplasm resistance (after Pethig, 1988)

LF field enters through pores

hand column and frequencies used in electro-physiotherapy modalities in the right-hand column. A guide to wavelength energies at different frequencies is included, together with an SI unit scale for reference, since units such as 'tera' and 'Dico', for example, are rarely encountered in every day life.

successively showing that low frequency fields preferentially flow aroundthe resistance offered by a closed cell membrane (4, that high frequency fields flow through a cell as membrane capacitance 'shorts out' resistance (81, and that low frequency fields will flow through the Cell where there are conducting pores (C). Pethig (1988) has explored the electrical properties of biological tissues, including protein associated or 'bound water' lattices related to absorption of microwave and acoustic frequencies. Figure 4 shows an electrical model of an 'ideal cell' (Smith, 1988, 1989). The calculated values given for dielectric

A conducting POre breaks membrane redstanceand.lom access into the cell for low frequency fields (after Whig, 1988)

and capacitance, charge, EM resonances and acoustic resonances are based upon cell size and structural properties (the EM values are boxed in the chart). Such bioelectric modelling of the cell opens the concept that the bioenergetics of cellular activity can also be c o n s i d e d in terms of physics as well as biochemistry. A comprehensiv@ theoretical and quantitive review of the electro-physiology of biological structures and functions can be found in Plonsey and Barr (1988).

Enzymes and Fields Cell function requires fast chemical reactions. Enzymes can accelerate biochemical reactionsby several milliontimes and each cell contains some 3,000 enzymes. When modelled electrically their highly reactive covalent and electrovaleni energies can be considered as very active sites of extreme vibratory and rapid translatory (non-oscillatory) charge movement. This means, in effect, that each enzymic reaction is a focal source of extremely high frequency (EHFI electromagnetic fields (10' * Hz or higher) which may affeci other nearby enzyme systems by interlinked frequency resonance (Frohlich, 1988b). Biomolecules, as dipoles, respond strongly to electric fields, lining themselves up like bar magnets in a magnetic field. Vibratory electric membrane fields will cause ions t a oscillate and dipoles to rotate. The degree of oscillation and rotation will depend upon the frequency and the amplitude of the field relative to the inertia of the charged molecules. Much enzymic activity depends upon the availability 01 specific charge sites on membrane protein surfaces. These sites are exposed or concealed by changes in moleculai shape, or configuration, in response, for example, to firsr. messenger molecule 'lock and key' instructions and/oi Ca2+ ion interaction. This mechanism may also be triggered by adsorption of the appropriate electrical signal energy.

Order Parameters Theoretical physics attempts to bridge the gap between the predictable large scale 'ordinary' world and the less predictable small scale atomic world governed by quantum physics and the uncertainty principle. It does this by identifyingphysical variables which play the role of boundary crossing 'order parameters' linking the two. For example, the 'order parameter' variable determining the strength of an ordinary ferromagnet (iron, cobalt and nickel) is the density of magnetisation (Del Guidice era/, 1988). This parameter can be related to the number of north-south orientated magnetic domains per unit volume. The strengh of each 0.1-1 mm sized domain depends upon the total magnetic moment generated by unpaired electron spin in the subshells of the ferromagnetic atoms which comprise each domain. So, the apparently simple behaviour of a small magnet, or magnetisable steel pin, for example, depends upon an invisible subatomic world of unpaired spinning electrons orbiting each atom which orientate it towards the north or south pole. Based upon a study of the dielectric properties of cellular membranes, and the frequency characteristics of dipole biomolecules, Frohlich, a theoretical physicist, has proposed that the order parameter for biological systems is the density of electric polarisation (Frohlich, 1968). Whatever bioenergetic changes occur in living systems at cellular level they. invariably modify this basic parameter. Electrical polarisation, whether of negative or positive charge, automatically creates an electric field. Electrical fields 'strycture' space within their influence by 'lines of force' which will affect any charged particle, or object, in the vicinity. Cell membranes, inorganic ions, dipole and multipole biomolecules, ionic pumps, ion channels and enzymic actiqities can be considered in terms of sources of polarised chaQa The cell as a whole, therefore, may be described in terms of electrical fields. Such fields will oscillate across a wide range of vibratory modes centred around thermal

vibration at 37OC. Vibrating dielectric systems behave in a non-linear way, that is, they tend to jump from one vibratory mode to another, and when energised above critical levels they fall into a preferred single coherent mode which will be excited very strongly. In cellular systems this tends to be around 10" to lovaHz. It is possible that cells may communicate across extracellular space, and through interlinked gap junctions by preferred frequency field interactions persisting in time. This line of reasoning leads to the concept of coherence and coherent excitation. Coherent Exdtatlon Frohlich realised that the key concept is 'coherence' whereby waves are in phase with each other both temporally (timelocked) and spatially (fig 5(A) ). Lasers are a familiar example of coherent excitationbuild up of oscillatingelectron shell energy which is released in the emission of coherent waves (Kert and Rose, 1989). Biological tissues may also have a similar ability to store energy in excited atomic states, known as metastable states, and then release this energy to accelerate, for example, enzyme reactions (Hasted, 1988). Soldiers marching in perfect unison provide a useful analogy of wave coherence. Incoherence exists when waves lave no regularly recurring relationship to each other. 3idinary light is incoherent (fig 5(B) as it is a jumble of Navelengths from source which remain 'out of step' even 3 t the same frequency. Soldiers, walking as individuals at :heir own pace, illustrate the incoherence of unconnected :adence, and this is still true even if they retain the same stride length and rhythm. Concepts related to coherence are 'resonance', 'tuning' md 'coupling' whereby an oscillator source generates a jiven frequency which can 'couple' with another system and :ransfer energy if the receiving system can be 'tuned' to )e in 'resonance' with the received frequency (a familiar

Amplitude

Coherent oscillations

(Cl II

Phase difference

Cycle

(same frequency)

Fig S: (A) shows coherent waves in-phase as in laser emission. (6) shows incoherent waves which are out of phase and in random relationship with each other. (C) shows wavesfruma w r c e which initIaUy emitted them out of phase, but in temporal rebtkmdp of frequency, and then merging into coherent phase (Ilft.r Kert and Rom, 1989: Smith and Best. 1989).Freqwncy=cyder/rec(ham); wavelength-distanceelcycle (A); vehdtpfrequencyx-

example is shortwave diathermy coupling of the 27.12 MHz oscillator output to the patient's resonator circuit by variable capacitor tuning). Once in resonance, energy can be transferred at high levels. These concepts are extensively employed when considering cell functioning from this viewpoint. Coherence is the basis of telecommunications. The sharper, or more precise, the signal coherence, the clearer the message. Signal Interception Adey, a neuroscientist, has reviewed the possible mechanisms whereby physiological signalling across cell membranes can occur (Adey, 1988). He points out that the charged glycolipid and glycoprotein arrays are extracellular extensions of transmembranousreceptor proteins which, in turn, are linked to intracellular microtubules. These, Adey suggests, can act as frequency receiver channels through the highly electrified membrane sheet. This transductive coupling of an external signal, be it humoral molecule (ligandl or EM wave, can be amplified by enzymic reactions (Frohlich's coherent energy pumps) triggered, for example, by activated Ca2+ ions. Smith, a medical physicist, has pointed out that: 'In terms of electronics an enzymesubstrate system can be consideredas an "amplifier" if one regards the input signal as the amount of enzyme present and the output signal as the amount of reaction product formed per minute' (Smith, 1988). A substrate is the substance acted upon by an enzyme. The mechanism, therefore, seems to exist for selective reception and amplification of very weak signals which may be thousands, or possibly millions, of times below the average membrane potential of 75 mV. Pilla, a bioelectrochemist, has studied the electrochemical kinetics of charged membrane adsorption of EM waveforms and considers that ion mechanisms are the coupling link at the charged interfaces of the cell (Pilla, 1988). Intermittent Signals Signals carrying an extended message over time need a related time coherence of frequency patterns which can be identified from random noise by a receiver. Acoustic vibration of musical sound, for example, has a related coherence of pattern, or meaning, as note succeeds note and this can be recognised across background static and tuned into when searching through radio stations. Morse code transmission is coherent in the sense that the dots and dashes have a temporal relationship that can be detected over time by filtering out incoherent random noise. While coherence, and therefore information, exist in a repetitive carrier wave of constant frequency and amplitude, the information that it can cfarry is enormously increased by modulation. Figure 6 shods the variety of ways that information transfer by amplitude modulation, controlled frequency changes, varying pulse widths, varying pulse repetitions and varying pulse shapes can be achieved. Morse, cable, teleprinter and binary codes are typical communication system examples.

frequency interference waves as in interferential therapy. Reference to the chart shows that ELF correlates with lowfrequency electrotherapy modalities. These frequencies are not 'coherent' in the same sense as discussed earlier, as their kilometre-long wavelengths are infinite compared t o cell dimensions. Bullock (1977) has shown that some fish can sense slectric fields generated by their prey at an incredibly faint loe6Vlcm (100 millionth of a volt drop across one centimetre). This, like the image intensifying sensitivity of the retina, which can respond at almost single photon levels, shows the extraordinary sensitivity of specialised biological systems 'which almost reaches theoretical limits' (Frohlich, 1988b). Recent reports that the platypus and spiny anteater have slectroreceptors in their bill and snout, respectively, which can detect 20 to 100 Hz frequencies and direct current Bradients of 1 mVlcm (Verma, 1989) also seem to support less than Adey's contention as this is about membrane potential strength. It is probable that hedgehogs, moles and other wet-nosed snufflers, as it were, can also detect minute fields and currents emitted by their prey. Basic Concepts

5 ' Sine-wave carrier

Frequency-modulated wave

-0 e

c .e

ZI

Time !%r

Pulse-amplitude modulation

4

1

c C .

1 -

P

~

I

- -

*Time

m

-0 c C

.-

Time

P

I

1 -

-0 m

.-c 0

1:l

: 3

I

I

.-

r

-L

HTime

I i I

Low Frequency and DC Sensitivity Adey (1988) considers that biological systems are particularly responsive to extremely low-frequency EM fields (ELF) in the ten to few hundred herz range. These can be received either as low-frequency amplitude modulations of high frequency carrier waves, or as simple low-frequency waves, or as 'beat' frequencies resulting from medium-

-y,

September 1990, vol76, no9

Pulse-code modulation

Flg 6: Infomationtransfer by a range of coherent wmtonn, pulu and froquenncy modulations. If the r . c d w is tunod to a glm modulation thon the signal can bo received and Information

trmrhmd (dtw Smlth and Best, 1989)

513

time enzyme reactions and cell cycles. Hameroff suggests that MTs function as the 'intelligence' of the cell and makes the somewhat breathtaking proposal that: 'In a general sense, MT automata may be the information substrate for biological activities ranging from ciliary bending t o human consciousness' (Hameroff, 1987). From this point of view the nuclear DNA carries the hereditary programmes to build and maintain the cellular 'hardware' and the MTs run the 'software' of intelligent purpose and response appropriate to cell type, be it phagocyte or neurone. Cell t o Cell Wall Contact Junctions Josephson Junction Analogy

-

In a similar vein, Del Guidice and colleagues, theoretical physicists, have reviewed the possible electrodynamic properties of the precisely ordered three-dimensional Fig 7: Schematic of cellular cytoskeleton membrane. M-cell membrane. MP=membrane protein. GP=giycoproteh extending into world of cellular structures, and have proposed that extracellular space. MT=microtubule. MF=microfilaments (actin the cytoskeleton may have analogous properties t o filaments or intermediate filaments). MTL=microtrabecular lattice. superconductor behaviour (Del Guidice et a/, 1988). Much Cytoskeletal proteins which connect M T and membrane proteins of the argument is based upon QFT, which is well beyond Include spectrin, fodrin, ankyrin, and others (Hameroff, 1987) the scope of this article, but their suggestions are that biological systems may be very sensitive to weak EM Cytoskeleton Circuitry fields and that coherent waves could be generated within Hameroff, a research anaesthetist, is a strong advocate the MTs of the cytoskeleton-like superconductor currents for the role of microtubules (MTs) in receiving incoming EM (Josephson-like effects). These waves could pass from cell frequencies, and of the total filamentous structure as offering to cell via tight junction cell wall contact. These tight possible information processing systems within the cell junctions are formed by the very thin insulating plasma (Hameroff, 1987, 1988). Figure 7 is a schematised view of membrane barriers of adjacent cells which would separate the cytoskeletal lattice and its connection to the glycolipid the adjacent 'superconducting-like' coherent frequency arrays. The charged cytoskeleton components, lined with a mode systems. In superconducting circuits a current can 3 nm thick layer of 'ordered water' dipoles in regular polar flow without resistance and when they are separated by such a thin insulating junction (Josephson junction) alignment t o the charged walls, are long polar electrets. These, he proposes, can act as co-ordinated assemblies frequency phase overlap occurs and can result in sustained within the cell capable of supporting 'Frohlich-like coherent high frequency oscillation. They conclude by saying that: excitations'. In other words, they can hold and convey 'The dynamically sustained Josephson-like elements inside a living system can be a time-dependent network able t o information in coherent frequency modes. He sees the cell as having the properties of solid state perform information storage and information processing' circuitry and concludes from computer simulation programs, and that cells in tissues could combine in co-operative using mathematical models based upon quantum field theory behaviour by acting, in effect, like arrays of Josephson (OFT), that MTs act as 'cellular automata' or cellular junctions in coherent resonant oscillation. computers, capable of generating, processing and storing coherent information, maybe as three-dimensional Frequency Windows intracellular holographic imagery (fig 8). Hameroff has Another key concept is 'frequency window' with the estimated that interactive patterns would travel along the meaning that cells may be selectively receptive t o certain MT lattice at 8 nm per nanoseconds (8 m/s), taking 2 to 3 ns frequencies but unresponsive to others. Such window to cross the average cell. Such travelling waves would 'read selectivity, which would apply equally to coherent or out' information by holographic interference patterns incoherent waves, would probably be controlled by surface received by organelles for routine cellular functions. protein reception site or resonant MT channel properties. The Such cellular automata would require a 'universal clock' 'frequency window' could change according to cellular state. to which everything in the cell is subject, and Frohlich has As a result of laboratory research and clinical experience, prop6sed a cellular clocking mechanism based upon Bassett, an orthopaedic surgeon,; has developed this coherent nanosecond dipole rotations coupled with hypothesis to account for claimed specific cellular responses conformational protein changes. This would, for example, t o asymmetric pulse shapes, applied either as single pulses or in pulse bursts (Bassett, 1983). He claims that pulses can .- ...'. ..._ - .....; . . .- -.. be shaped to activate specific genes for protein manufacture (see figure 6, pulse shape modulation). Direct Current Gradients

4:

._

..

..': .. ._

.. .. .'.. ..._

Fig Interferencepatterns in cytoplasm created by coherent wave! generated by resonance dynamics in microtubules. This could bc the basis for possible holographic information imagery (Hameroff 19871

Cells seem responsive to steady, direct current (DC) of several microwatts per cm gradients, and either move, or grow towards, one pole (usually the cathode) and away from the other. Field gradients may be an important factor in guiding embryonic growth (Jaffe, 1982) and in wound healing (Foulds and Barker, 1983).

Biophotons b n g infra red

Violet Blue Green Yellow Orange Red 380

1

"

" I " " I ' " ' I ' " 500

600

Dark red

700

I

I I I

&"

780

I I I 1

I

Living cells are weak emitters of selective frequency radiation across much of the EM spectrum up t o long ultraviolet frequencies. All cells generate a surrounding dielectric field which will organise particles in patterns similar t o iron filings around a magnet. This field is at its maximum during mitosis (Pollock and Pohl, 1988). Cells also emit photons, known as biophotons, at spectral frequencies ranging from the near infra red to ultraviolet A (Kert and Rose, 1989). Figure 9 shows the radiation spectrum emitted by phagocytes during active phagocytosis which is mainly centred in the visible band. Emission intensity seems proportional to cellular activity. Inflamed and healing tissues, therefore, may be strong sources for such emission which could be received through the 'frequency windows' of neighbouring cells to initiate their response. Figure 10 illustrates four possible ways of intercellular communication, using different frequency signals.

Holographic 3D imagery information patterns in cytosol fo{ 0rgar)elle 'read-off'

Wavelength (nn along microtibules--

.i,

Fig 9: (A) Optical spectrum. (8) Spectrum of biophoton emission from phagocytes during active phagocytosis. This spans the whole light spectrum from red to violet with maximum spectra in the orangelred bands (after Kert and Rose, 1989)

7 Coherent frequency modes uniting tissue cells

'Josephson-like' tight junctions

-

(B) Racaiver cell

Source Biophoton

7 Leading to

Cell Membranes as Semiconductors Zon and Tien, biophysicists, have investigated the electronic properties of cell and organelle membranes and feel that there is evidence t o show that bilayer lipid membranes have n-type and p-type semi-conductor properties (Zon and Ti Tien, 1988). If so, this would indicate the possibility of transmembrane current rectification. The implication here is that alternating fields may result in more charge movement in one direction across the membrane rather than the other. Most experimental work has been on transmembrane currents but there is the possibility that semi-conductor electron/hole currents could move sideways along the plane of such membranes. This has implications for possible DC myelin sheath currents, the evidence for which will be discussed in part three. The title of a recent book Biological Coherence a n d Response to Stimuli (Frohlich, 1988a) epitomises the central point of much current research and speculation. Frohlich has proposed that the growth and stability of organs and tissue systems may be controlled by intercellular mutually coherent frequency signals. In other words, cell systems may recognise each other and socially communicate through an interlocking range of specific, coherent, information and instruction carrying frequencies. Degenerative disease processes and cancer have been modelled as breakdowns of this mutually coherent frequency control by abnormal destructive agencies such as trauma, infection and auto-immunity responses. Cancer cells, for example, become increasingly alienated and unresponsive to coherent signalling at each generation regress (Hameroff et al, 1984).

physiotherapy, September 1990. vol76, no 9

-

""'(".a"",

Highly active dividing cell

window

Induced mitosis of receiver cell

@

(C)

Cascade raisedeffect collagen synthesis

Electromagnetic signal as 1st messenger

I Caz release or enzyme amplification as 2nd messenger

I

Modulated low frequency signals leg TENS, IF) Target cells

u Gar, junction

- - - transfer dnic flux in cytosol

as information

Fig 10: Four theoretical examples of using frequencies as intercellular communications

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