Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma lipid peroxide level and antioxidant activity in rats med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2005; 26 (7): 589-594

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electric fields on plasma lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant activity in rats.

Background/further details

Rats treated with a combination of the oxidizing agent AAPH (2,2'-azobis(2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride, 10 mg/kg) and 50 Hz electric fields of 17.5 kV/m intensity, with AAPH alone, with electric fields alone or without treatment were compared. Different groups of rats were treated with the antioxidant agent ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg) or superoxide dismutase (50 mg/kg) before the AAPH administration.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 15 min, once or repeated daily for 7 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 15 min, once or repeated daily for 7 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber The EF exposure system is composed of three major parts: a high voltage transformer, a constant voltage unit, and EF exposure cages, which have been described in the reference article. Briefly, the exposure cage is composed of a cylindrical plastic cage (diameter: 400 mm, height: 400 mm) with two electrodes made of stainless steel (1200 x 1200 mm) placed over and under the cylindrical cage. Four device sets were used: two sets for exposure and another two for sham exposure. In the two device sets for sham exposure, a pair of electrodes was connected with wire to generate sham EF (0 V/m) and a switch was turned off during EF session.
Setup Each exposure cage housed one rat during each session in order to avoid an imbalance of EF induced by housing two or more rats at the same time. Each rat in five groups (n = 5) was individually treated with an EF or a sham EF for 1 day or 7 days, or was not treated for 7 days.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 17.5 kV/m effective value measured and calculated - -

Reference articles

  • Harakawa S et al. (2004): Effect of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma ACTH, glucose, lactate, and pyruvate levels in stressed rats

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The electric field significantly decreased the lipid peroxide level in rats treated with AAPH, similar to treatment by ascorbic acid or the superoxide dismutase. This finding might indicate the involvement of exposure to extremely low frequency electric field in lipid peroxide metabolism.
Ascorbic acid increased antioxidant activity. However, the electric field or superoxide dismutase did not change the antioxidant activity compared with sham exposure in stressed animals. Although the administration of AAPH decreased antioxidant activity, this decrease did not change when electric field was added.
No influence on the lipid peroxide level and antioxidant activity in unstressed rats was revealed with electric field exposure alone.
These results indicate that the extremely low frequency electric field influenced the lipid peroxide level in an oxidatively stressed rat.

Study character:

Study funded by

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