1. Stable magnetic field gradient levitation of Xenopus laevis: toward low-gravity simulation.
- Author
-
Valles JM Jr, Lin K, Denegre JM, and Mowry KL
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Fertilization, Models, Theoretical, Movement, Ovulation, Ovum cytology, Ovum physiology, Embryo, Nonmammalian physiology, Hypogravity, Magnetics, Xenopus laevis embryology
- Abstract
We have levitated, for the first time, living biological specimens, embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis, using a large inhomogeneous magnetic field. The magnetic field/field gradient product required for levitation was 1430 kG2/cm, consistent with the embryo's susceptibility being dominated by the diamagnetism of water and protein. We show that unlike any other earth-based technique, magnetic field gradient levitation of embryos reduces the body forces and gravity-induced stresses on them. We discuss the use of large inhomogeneous magnetic fields as a probe for gravitationally sensitive phenomena in biological specimens.
- Published
- 1997
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