Research in Molecular Medicine

en Synergistic Effects of Static Magnetic Field and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Paramecium caudatum Cyclosis نانوتکنولوژی Nanotechnology پژوهشي Research Bcckgroud: Nanoparticles (NPs) have been increasingly noticed due to their unique properties. Static magnetic fields (SMFs) also have the potential to affect biological processes. We studied the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and SMF on cyclosis, motor activity, and dynein density in Paramecium caudatum. Methodology: Samples (0.1 mL) of P. caudatum pure culture were exposed to ZnO NPs (1, 5, and 25 μg/μL). Experiments were conducted under natural geomagnetic conditions (laboratory) and under SMF (0.061 T). Control groups received only 1 µL of distilled water. Over periods of 30 sec, the s-shaped movements, the acid/base status of cyclosis vacuoles, the escape behaviour, the levels of antioxidant factors and nitric oxide (NO), and dynein density were measured. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The field had a decreasing effect on the movement of Paramecium compared to the control. ZnO NPs, regardless of the conditions, caused an increase in movement at high concentrations. Avoidance was induced in exposure to high concentrations of NPs. The acid/base ratio characteristic of cyclosis vacuoles declined in high concentrations of NPs. Antioxidant factors, such as glutathione and catalase were reduced after exposure to NPs, but more severely, under the field. However, superoxide dismutase and NO did not change significantly. Dynein density decreased after exposure to high concentrations of nanomaterial under the field. Conclusion: ZnO NPs and SMF probably have synergistic effects on the physiology of Paramecium, including cyclosis and motility, by affecting the density of motor and scaffold proteins.   Paramecium caudatum, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), static magnetic field (SMF), cyclosis 0 0 http://rmm.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1477-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Samaneh Kanani samanehk9879@gmail.com 100319475328460013839 100319475328460013839 No Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. Manizheh Karami karami@shahed.ac.ir 100319475328460013840 100319475328460013840 Yes Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran Abazar Hajnorouzi ahajnorouzi@gmail.com 100319475328460013841 100319475328460013841 No Department of Physics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.