Scientists from the University of Oslo found that exposure to sound changes the structure of the “skeleton” of cells in the laboratory. The research was published in the journal bioengineering.
For the experiments, the scientists used the “immortal” HeLa cell line. They were divided into four groups to evaluate 15 minutes of sound exposure. Some cells were exposed to a sound with a regular rhythm, some to a sound with an irregular rhythm, some to a continuous sound, and the fourth was a control group that was not exposed to the sound.
Biologists then studied microfilaments (thin, long threads that help cells maintain their shape and divide). They became more intense and shorter, while continuous sound caused the most noticeable changes. Scientists suggest that the effects they discovered could be useful in growing insulin-producing pancreatic cells in the laboratory.
“Researchers often need various chemicals to stimulate cells. If cells can be stimulated using vibration such as sound, this could lead to new ways of experimenting with them,” the authors explained.
The authors of the study emphasized that the changes observed by scientists in cells exposed to sound do not mean that music is beneficial or harmful. Their experiment only lays the foundation for future research.
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