• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Cytogenetic effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on Wistar rat bone marrow. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
The potential genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of acute (for four hours) and long-term exposure (for 45 days) to 50 Hz magnetic field on tibia bone marrow cells of rats in vivo should be investigated.
Background/further details:
The experiment was carried out with healthy adult female Wistar rats (eight weeks of age, with average body weight of 178±15 g).
The positive control consisted of animals treated with mitomycin C (2 mg/kg body weight).

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage in bone marrow

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, 50/60 Hz (AC)

Field characteristics	Parameters
50 Hz exposure duration: experiment 1: 4 h continuous; experiment 2: 4 h/day for 45 days	magnetic flux density: 1 mT (+/- 0.05 mT)

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Wistar
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (chromosome aberrations: Giemsa stain/number of micronuclei: May-Grünwald and Giemsa stain, light microscopy)
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cytotoxicity (mitotic index, ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The results concerning genotoxicity revealed no statistically significant differences between the negative control and the exposure groups in chromosome aberrations. However, a statistically significant higher mean micronucleus frequency was observed in the long-term magnetic field exposed group compared to the negative control and acutely magnetic field exposed group.
The mitotic index in bone marrow of both magnetic field exposed groups was significantly decreased when compared to that in the negative control. Additionally, bone marrow cytotoxicity (depression) was indicated by a significant lower ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to normochromatic erythrocytes in both magnetic field exposed groups.
These results indicate that the exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field may be genotoxic and cytotoxic on bone marrow cells of mammals.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• not stated

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