Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Electric field exposure and evidence of stress in mice med./bio.

By: de Bruyn L, de Jager L

Published in: Environ Res 1994; 65 (1): 149-160

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effect of stress induced by an electric field in six generations of mice.

Background/further details

Six consecutive generations consisted of ten control pairs of adult mice and ten exposed pairs of adult mice in each generation. The examination of the adrenal glands was performed on young mice (35 days old, n=10), adults (6 months old, n=20) and old mice (18 months, n=10). Blood samples were taken from adult male mice (daytime and nighttime) as well as male and female old mice (only daytime) (n=12 in each group).

Endpoint

endocrine changes: chronic stress-related endocrine changes

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- electric field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 22 hr/day from conception untill death (35 days - 18 months)	electric field strength: 10 kV/m

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	22 hr/day from conception untill death (35 days - 18 months)

Exposure setup

Exposure source	two parallel capacitor plates placed horizontally and 600 mm apart
Setup	Perspex animal cages placed on the lower capacitor plate 180 mm inside the edge
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	10 kV/m	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/BALB/c
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

endocrine changes: chronic stress-related endocrine changes (serum corticosterone level (radioimmunoassay); lipid content of the adrenal cortex (hematoxylin-eosin stain, oil red O stain, light microscopy)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
blood sample

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The mean lipid volume in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal glands was significantly higher in the exposed adult male group than in the control group. The daytime corticosterone level of the exposed adult male mice was also significantly higher than that of the controls. The lipid profiles and corticosterone values in all other subgroups did not differ significantly.

Study character:

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

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Harakawa S et al. (2020): Gender and Age Differences in the Suppressive Effect of a 50 Hz Electric Field on the Immobilization-Induced Increase of Plasma Glucocorticoid in Mice
Hori T et al. (2018): Characterization of the suppressive effects of extremely-low-frequency electric fields on a stress-induced increase in the plasma glucocorticoid level in mice
Harakawa S et al. (2017): Time-dependent changes in the suppressive effect of electric field exposure on immobilization-induced plasma glucocorticoid increase in mice
Hori T et al. (2017): Configuration-dependent variability of the effect of an electric field on the plasma glucocorticoid level in immobilized mice
Hori T et al. (2015): Exposure to 50 Hz electric fields reduces stress-induced glucocorticoid levels in BALB/c mice in a kV/m- and duration-dependent manner
Kitaoka K et al. (2013): Chronic exposure to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field induces depression-like behavior and corticosterone secretion without enhancement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in mice
Szemerszky R et al. (2010): Stress-related endocrinological and psychopathological effects of short- and long-term 50Hz electromagnetic field exposure in rats
Harakawa S et al. (2004): Effect of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma ACTH, glucose, lactate, and pyruvate levels in stressed rats
Romo MA et al. (1997): Histopathological changes in mouse adrenal gland under second-generation chronic exposure to 50-Hz magnetic fields. II. Females
Picazo ML et al. (1996): Changes in mouse adrenalin gland functionality under second-generation chronic exposure to ELF magnetic fields. I. males