Issue 3, 2010

Biophotons as neural communication signals demonstrated by in situ biophoton autography

Abstract

Cell to cell communication by biophotons has been demonstrated in plants, bacteria, animal neutrophil granulocytes and kidney cells. Whether such signal communication exists in neural cells is unclear. By developing a new biophoton detection method, called in situ biophoton autography (IBA), we have investigated biophotonic activities in rat spinal nerve roots in vitro. We found that different spectral light stimulation (infrared, red, yellow, blue, green and white) at one end of the spinal sensory or motor nerve roots resulted in a significant increase in the biophotonic activity at the other end. Such effects could be significantly inhibited by procaine (a regional anaesthetic for neural conduction block) or classic metabolic inhibitors, suggesting that light stimulation can generate biophotons that conduct along the neural fibers, probably as neural communication signals. The mechanism of biophotonic conduction along neural fibers may be mediated by proteinprotein biophotonic interactions. This study may provide a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of neural communication, the functions of the nervous system, such as vision, learning and memory, as well as the mechanisms of human neurological diseases.

Graphical abstract: Biophotons as neural communication signals demonstrated by in situ biophoton autography

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Oct 2009
Accepted
08 Dec 2009
First published
21 Jan 2010

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2010,9, 315-322

Biophotons as neural communication signals demonstrated by in situ biophoton autography

Y. Sun, C. Wang and J. Dai, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2010, 9, 315 DOI: 10.1039/B9PP00125E

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