Static magnetic field expose enhances neurotransmission in crayfish nervous system.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of static magnetic field (SMF) exposure on the synaptic transmission in a tail-flip circuit of crayfish. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An O-shaped permanent magnet (35 mT intensity) was placed under the isolated nerve cord of crayfish to provide static magnetic field exposure. Using electrophysiological methods, the excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP) before and after field exposure in the lateral giant interneuron were measured and compared. RESULTS: The EPSP produced via electrical and chemical synapses in the lateral giant neuron were enhanced after 30 min of SMF exposure (8.08 mT). Perfusion of field-exposed crayfish bath solution or preloading of Ca(2+) chelator and intracellular Ca(2+) release blocker failed to observe the SMF-induced enhancement on EPSP. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of SMF increases the efficacy of synaptic-transmission in crayfish tail-flip escape circuit and this SMF-induced potentiation is a Ca(2+) dependent phenomenon.