60 Hz electric field upregulates cytosolic Ca2+ level in mouse splenocytes stimulated by lectin

The effect of a 60 Hz electric field (EF) on alteration of cytosolic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]c) was examined in mouse splenocytes stimulated by lectins, namely concanavalin A (ConA) or phytohemagglutinin. In order to understand the role of EF on alterations in [Ca2+]c and to determine whether EF exposure increased cell mortality the splenocytes were cultured under the 60 Hz EFs producing current densities of 6 or 60 μA/cm2 for 30 min or 24 h. Cell mortality was less than 2% in experimental all conditions. [Ca2+]c in the splenocyte was not changed by the 6 μA/cm2 exposure alone, while a lectin‐induced [Ca2+]c elevation in the EF exposed cells was significantly higher than that of the sham exposed cells (P