Is Atmospheric Superoxide Essential? Accelerated Death of Animals in a Quasi-Neutral Electric Atmosphere

Abstract

The aim of the work was to study the biological role of micromolar amounts of ionized gases by their artificial electrostatic removal from inhaled air („air ion deprivation“).  Due to the putative involvement of adeno- and neurohypophysis in the physiological responses to inhaled air ions (AI), especially micromolar amounts of gas-phase superoxide, a morphological study of these structures was performed.

Ambient air deionization inside an experimental acrylic glass cage (AGC) was performed by electrostatic field, built up by acrylic glass surfaces. The concentration of negative AIs was not measurable four hours after the animals were placed in the AGC, and the concentration of positive ions was (mean \(\pm\) SD) 77 \(\pm\) 18 ions × cm^-3. The concentrations of negative and positive AI were 482 \(\pm\) 128 ions×cm^-3 and 660 \(\pm\) 148 ions×cm^-3 in identical silicate glass cages (control), respectively It has been found that a prolonged absence of AI in the ambient air leads to accelerated death of animals. The deprived mice and rats lived 16.2 \(\pm\) 0.9 and 23.0 \(\pm\) 1.1 days respectively. The pathological signs and ultrastructural changes in the adeno- and neurohypophysis observed in deprived animals strongly suggest that animal death is related to neurohormonal regulation disturbances and pituitary insufficiency. The physiological need for AIs and atmospheric superoxide, as well as its role in the development of environmental stress in humans, particularly premature infants, are discussed.