Effect of nuclear magnetic resonance fields in peritoneal macrophages

Magnetic resonance is frequently used to obtain medical ima ges for diagnosis. To perform these exams high magnetic fields are applied, implying at least ±10,000 times the va lue of the Earth basal field (3-7·10–5 T). In our experimental study we used adherent cells (rat peritoneal macrophages), cultured in standard conditions (37 °C, 5% CO2) with adequate media in 6 wells plates. Three groups for each type of cell were established: control, head and body coil, being the irradiation performed with a 1.5 T (University Hospital of Coimbra) and a 3 T (National Functional Brain Imagiology Network – IBILI) intensity fields. Macrophages’ cytotoxicity and viability were tested with the MTTi assay 0, 12, 36, 60 and 84 hours post-irradiation. Irradiated macrophages presented slightly less viability and adhesion features compared to control, although no differences between the head and body coil were found.