Hypothalamic digoxin, geomagnetic fields and human disease--a hypothesis.

ABSTRACT

The human hypothalamus synthesis an endogenous membrane Na(+)-K(+) ATPase inhibitor, digoxin. A digoxin-mediated model for quantal perception of geomagnetic fields is proposed. External geomagnetic fields can produce membrane Na(+)-K(+) ATPase inhibition. The inhibition of Na(+)-K(+) ATPase can contribute to increase in intracellular calcium and decrease in magnesium, which can result in (1) defective neurotransmitter transport mechanism, (2) neuronal degeneration and apoptosis, (3) mitochondrial dysfunction, (4) defective golgi body function and protein processing dysfunction, (5) immune dysfunction and oncogenesis. Geomagnetic fields can thus regulate cellular function and contributing to the pathogenesis of disease.