• experimental
  
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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on delayed chromosomal instability induced by bleomycin in normal human fibroblast cells. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the interaction of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on delayed chromosomal instability (with and without bleomycin) in human fibroblast cells.
Background/further details:
Electromagnetic fields of 0.8 mT field strength was applied either alone or with bleomycin throughout the culture period. The frequencies of micronuclei and aneuploidy were analyzed at 28, 88, and 240 h after bleomycin treatment.

Endpoint

• genotoxicity/mutation: chromosomal instability (of chromosome 1 and 4)

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

Field characteristics	Parameters
60 Hz exposure duration: continuous throughout the cultivation period	magnetic flux density: 0.8 mT

Exposed system:
intact cell/cell culture (in vitro)
CCD-986sk (human fibroblasts)

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: chromosomal instability (of chromosome 1 and 4; cytokinesis block micronucleus assay; aneuploidy; fluorescence in situ hybridization)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The co-exposure (bleomycin and electromagnetic field) led to a significant increase in the frequencies of micronuclei and aneuploidy compared to the cells treated with bleomycin alone.
However, no difference was found between electromagnetic field exposed and sham exposed control cells.
The frequency of micronuclei induced by bleomycin was increased at 28 h, and persistently increased up to 240 h, but the new levels were not significantly different from the level at 28 h (= no delayed chromosomal instability by electromagnetic fields). Bleomycin alone increased the frequencies of aneuploidy at 28, 88, and 240 h, and significantly higher frequency of aneuploidy was found in the cells analyzed at 240 h compared to the cells examined at 28 h.
The data suggest that the extremely low frequency electromagnetic field enhances the cytotoxicity of bleomycin. Bleomycin might induce delayed chromosomal instability, but no effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field was found on the bleomycin-induced delayed chromosomal instability in fibroblast cells.

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

Study funded by

• Korea Research Foundation (KRF), Korea

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