Investigations on biological effect of polarized light.

The biological effects of single and 4-time irradiation of primary human embryo fibroblasts with 4 J/cm polarized light emitted by a halogen light source were investigated. The functional state of the plasma membrane was examined by means of lectin-binding and polycationized ferritin-binding techniques. It was established that the Con A binding of the cells did not change, whereas the number of negatively charged binding sites increased to a significant degree in relation to the untreated (control) samples and cell cultures exposed to diffuse (non-polarized) light. The micromorphological examinations showed no ultrastructural deviations. The quantitative increase of negative surface charges may be regarded as an indication of the biological effect of polarized light exerted on the cell membrane. The modifying effect of polarized light on the survival of E. coli exposed to the ionizing radiation was manifested in decreased anoxic radiation response.