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Effects of the helium-neon laser on rat kidney epithelial cells in culture

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Abstract

The cellular mechanisms of action of low power lasers are only partially understood. Therefore, we have studied effects of helium-neon (He−Ne) laser irradiation in a cell culture model. The studies were performed with the permanent rat kidney cell line RK-L. By electron microscopy, significant ultrastructural changes of the cells were seen after He−Ne irradiation at 40 mW/cm2 for 4h (569 J/cm2), including detritus-like formations of the cell organelles close to the nucleus. While such changes were not observed after 1 h irradiation (142 J/cm2), the number of cells in mitosis increased under this condition. In addition, the rate of incorporation of3H-thymidine into DNA decreased transiently 6–9 h after 1 h He−Ne irradiation of the cells. The consumption of glucose was also lowered for 10 h after irradiation, while the production of lactate increased. Finally, the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 was reduced following irradiation. These results show that the He−Ne laser induces significant effects at the cellular level. In addition, our findings support the concept that the biological effects of low power laser treatment involve changes in the cell cycle.

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Schneede, P., Jelkmann, W., Schramm, U. et al. Effects of the helium-neon laser on rat kidney epithelial cells in culture. Laser Med Sci 3, 249–257 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02593820

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02593820

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