Electromagnetic pulse´s effects on insulin´s bioactivity and mechanism study

Purpose: To investigate the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure on insulin´s bioactivity and their preliminary mechanism. Materials and methods: A EMP generator was used to expose the insulin solution. Concurrent sham-exposed insulin solution was used as control. The effects of EMP-exposed insulin on fasting blood glucose of type I diabetes model mice, the effects of EMP on binding affinity between insulin and its receptor, and the effects of EMP on insulin´s fluorescence intensity were detected respectively. Results: (1)After EM P exposure, compared with sham-exposed insulin, the insulin´s bioactivity of decreasing fasting blood glucose in type I diabetes model mice reduced significantly (P=0.023) (2)Compared with sham-exposed insulin group, the percentage fluorescein isothiocyannate labeling of HL-7702 cells was significantly reduced in EMP-exposed insulin group (22.7% to 13.8%, respectively)(3)Compared with sham-exposed insulin, the fluorescence intensity was significantly reduced in EMP-exposed insulin (P<0.001). Conclusions: EMP exposure could significantly decrease the bioactivity of insulin by reducing the blood glucose levels in type I diabetic mice. This could be due to decreased binding affinity between insulin and its receptor. The mechanism could involve an alteration of insulin`s´ conformation caused by EMP exposure.