In the course of germinating plant seeds - if the deuterium (D) concentration in the germinating medium (water) is lower or higher than in natural water (150 ppm) - the length and mass of seedlings (coleoptil, epicotyl, root) proportionally decrease. The cause of the decrease owing to the changed D concentration is explained partly on energetic - partly on free radical basis and proved by measuring. In waters with lower or higher than natural D concentration the energy supply decreases while the free radical formation increases. Free radicals exert their influence by inactivating the bios substances (e.g. auxin) through oxidation. This seems to explain the mechanism of the ensuing changes.
The anaesthetic, narcotic effect of magnesium has been discussed since the publication of Meltzer-Auger (1906), but its mechanism has not been clarified. Since then, other investigations have also been performed, but none of the publications has explained the issue. We propose a mechanism analogous to the studies made by Feinstein (1964), who examined organic compounds showing anaesthetic effects. Our view is that magnesium abridges two phospholipids of the opposite sides of the membrane through their phosphate groups. This binding results in membrane rigidity, which makes the ion permeability provided by the ion channel and/or carrier decrease or discontinue, thus the halting of the Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ion flow eventually causes an anaesthetic effect. Another possible pathway is that magnesium ions block the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor to control the ion channel, which also lowers the permeability of the membrane.