Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of Exposure to Static, High Voltage Electric Field Generated Nearby HVDC Transmission Lines on Antioxidant Activity of Hepatocytes in Rats med./bio.

Published in: PIERS Proceedings, Moscow, Russia. The Electromagnetics Academy, 2009: 1092-1096; ISBN 978-1-934142-10-3

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of long-term exposure to strong, static electric field generated by high voltage direct current transmission lines on activity of some antioxidant enzymes in liver homogenates of rats.

Background/further details

64 (96?; contradictory statements in the abstract and methods) male rats were divided into one/two exposure group(s) (contradictory statements) and a sham exposure group (each group n=32). At 14, 28, 56 days of exposure as well as at 28 days after exposure termination, 8 rats were killed and investigated.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h/day for up to 56 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 8 h/day for up to 56 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup two round shaped electrodes with specially profiled edges placed at a distance of 50 cm from each other with the cage (containing 8 animals) between them
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 25 kV/m - measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were significantly increased in the electric field-exposed group at the 56th day of exposure and enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase significantly decreased at the 14th day of exposure. No statistically significant changes were found in the enzyme activities of catalase and glutathione S-transferase both during and after the end of exposure.
Additionally, in exposed rats a significant decrease in malondialdehyde concentration in liver homogenates at 28 days after the end of exposure was found as compared to the control group.
The authors conclude, that strong static electric fields with characteristics of those generated by high voltage direct current transmission lines do not cause any persistent unfavorable effects on antioxidant reactions in the liver of rodents.

Study character:

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