Effect of magnetic stimulation of pineal complex of the brain on Na,K-ATPase in experimental Alzheimer's disease

In a previous paper, the authors (1997) have described the effect of Ca/sup 2+/-antagonist verapamil on Na,K-ATPase in experimental model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present paper is concerned with the effect of magnetic stimulation of pineal complex on Na,K-ATPase activity in the same experimental model of AD. Since accumulating data indicate that free radicals mediate injury and death of neurons in AD, and because magnetic fields (MFs) can alter free radicals reactions, we tested the hypothesis that stationary MFs mediates ion homeostasis through membrane Na,K-ATPase activity. Results are presented as Vmax/Km parameters on erythrocyte membranes in peripheral blood of rats with lesioned nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Bilateral electrolytic or by kainic acid induced lesions of NBM induce significant decrease of Vmax/Km activity on erythrocyte membranes obtained by cardiac function. Stimulation of pineal complex of the brain more than ten days, by magnetic beads (600-Gauss flux density) fixed on the skull upon pineal gland, significantly increase impaired by lesions of NBM, Na,K-ATPase activity. Results are presented as Vmax/Km parameters on erythrocyte membranes in peripheral blood of rats with lesioned NBM of the basal forebrain bundle. These results confirm the hypothesis that altered ion homeostasis disturbed by neuro-degenerations play an essential role in pathogenesis of experimental AD and that magnetic stimulation of the pineal complex might successfully restore disturbed by neuronal death Na,K-ATPase activity.