Review (medical/biological study)

In vivo effects of ELF MFs on collagen synthesis, free radical processes, natural antioxidant system, respiratory burst system, immune system activities, and electrolytes in the skin, plasma, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain tissues review

By: Seyhan N, Canseven AG

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2006; 25 (4): 291-305

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on skin, immune system, electrolytes concentrations in guinea pigs and drug induced epileptic seizure in mice.

Background/further details

The study summarized previous published (see publication 7584 and publication 13912) and unpublished data of the authors work on different experimental set ups and compared the results to those of similar other studies.

Endpoint

effects on skin, immune system, electrolytes concentrations, and drug induced epileptic seizures

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 4 h/day or 8 h/day for 5 days guinea pigs	magnetic flux density: 1 mT minimum magnetic flux density: 2 mT magnetic flux density: 3 mT maximum
Exposure 2: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 1 h mice	magnetic flux density: 0.2 mT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	4 h/day or 8 h/day for 5 days
Additional info	guinea pigs

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Setup	2 parallel circular coils 21.375 cm apart with a common axis ; each coil with a diameter of 42.75 cm and 154 turns of insulated copper wire; animals in the center of the exposure system
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	1 mT	minimum	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	2 mT	-	-	-	-
magnetic flux density	3 mT	maximum	-	-	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	1 h
Additional info	mice

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	0.2 mT	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

animal
guinea pig, mouse
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: collagen synthesis (skin hydroxyproline level), nitric oxide levels in lung tissue (spectrophotometry)
cell function: lipid peroxidation in lung, kidney, and brain tissue (malondialdehyde concentration, spectrophotometry), antioxidant system (glutathione levels, spectrophotometry)
effects on the immune system: natural killer cells activity in the spleen (colony forming inhibition assay), respiratory burst system (myeloperoxidase activity in renal tissue)
effects on the neurological system: drug (pentazol) induced epileptic seizures (latency to seizure onset, seizure duration, number of seizure episodes, and mortality)
electrolytes concentrations (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ in brain tissue, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Zn²⁺ in plasma, atomic absorption spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
intact cell/cell culture
tissue slices
plasma,
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure at magnetic flux density of 2 mT increased statistically significant hydroxyproline content of the skin compared to control group.
Statistical significant difference between electromagnetic field exposed group and control group were observed in increased plasma Ca²⁺ concentration.
In lung and kidney, exposure to 1 mT and 2 mT increased malondialdehyde concentration in four hours exposure/day whereas they caused a decrease in eight hours exposure/day. In brain significant increase in malondialdehyde concentration was observed in eight hours exposure/day at 2 mT.
Electromagnetic fields caused significant increase in lung tissue nitric oxide levels.
Increased renal myeloperoxidase activities were found for all magnetic field exposures and exposure periods.
No significant effect of electromagnetic field exposure on drug induced epileptic seizure was found.
These results indicate that extremely low frequency electromagnetic field has effects on the tissues examined.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
review/survey
full/main study
blind study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding