LOW-INTENSITY MICROWAVES AFFECT THE SPEED OF ION TRANSFER THROUGH BIOMEMBRANES
There is a research of the effect of low-intensity (less than 10 mW/sm2) electromagnetic microwaves (λ = 8 mm) on the speed of the oncoming transfer of chloride and hydroxyl ions through membranes of red blood cells - eryth- rocytes. The oncoming ion transfer takes place when red blood cells are put in non- buffer isotonic medium with reduced chloride ions concentration. The research was conducted using an ionometer by measuring the pH of the medium with hydrogen electrode. It was found that the microwave irradiation for half an hour increases the speed of oncoming transmembrane ion transfer in 1.22 times. This is the effect of the microwaves’ reduction of the “effective” thickness of the membrane boundary diffusion water layer. The “effective” thickness is reduced due to the “loosen” action of air bubbles, which are localized in the membrane boundary water layer. The speed of the air bubble in the gravitational field and in the temperature gradient field depends on the radius (it increases with the increase of radius). The microwave irradiation promotes the increase of bubbles’ size. This fact makes bubbles move more actively, strengthening the process of mixing of membrane boundary water layer. The result is a “loos- ening” of the layer, which leads to the reduction of the “effective” thickness. The process of ion transfer through the thinner layer of water runs faster, which was registered experimentally.