The effects of electromagnetic field and γ-radiation on cell proliferation and regeneration in planarian Schmidtea mediterranea

We have shown that γ-irradiation at dose of 10 Gy and low-intensity electromagnetic fields (EMF, 900 MHz, 100 μW/cm2, 180 min) significantly compromised cell proliferation of planarian S. mediterranea regenerating after decapitation. Using flow cytometry we have shown that 24 hours after exposure to γ-rays and EMF the index of proliferation established as the total amount of cells at S and G2/M phases was 2.8 and 1.8 lower than that in controls respectively. Our data therefore provide the first experimental evidence for the effects of medium-dose γ-irradiation on regeneration in planaria which is attributed to radiation-induced compromised proliferation activity.