Abstract

Although more and more attention has been paid to the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequencies range with the rapid development of THz technology, the effects of THz irradiation on many biological processes remain unknown. In this study, we explored the influence of THz irradiation at the frequency of 3.1 THz on the endocytosis of neuronal cells. To determine the changes of endocytosis, a membrane-selective fluorescent dye FM4-64 was used to stain HT22 cells under two kinds of THz irradiation conditions including pre-irradiating cells followed by FM4-64 staining and simultaneously irradiating and FM4-64 dyeing cells. The results showed that 3.1 THz irradiation could alter the endocytosis of HT22 cells via enhancing this process when cells are in a resting state, and, to the contrary, inhibiting this process when cells were in an excited state. Finally, in the presence of dynasore, an inhibitor of GTPase dynamin, THz irradiation dramatically increased the FM4-64 fluorescence intensity comparing to the unirradiated group in both physiological states. These findings demonstrated that THz irradiation could alter the endocytic process of neuronal cells in either a positive or negative way, suggesting that it has the possibility of affecting the substance exchange and signal transmission.

© 2021 Optical Society of America

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