Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effects of exposure to electromagnetic field on rat myocardium med./bio.

By: Kiray A, Tayefi H, Kiray M, Bagriyanik HA, Pekcetin C, Ergur BU, Ozogul C

Published in: Toxicol Ind Health 2013; 29 (5): 418-425

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of electromagnetic fields on heart tissue in adult rats by biochemical and histomorphological evaluations.

Background/further details

28 rats were divided into an exposure group (n=14) and a sham exposure group (n=14).

Endpoint

effects on the cardiovascular system: effects on the heart: myocardial damage (oxidative stress, apoptosis, histological evaluation)

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 2 months	magnetic flux density: 3 mT

General information

28 rats divided into exposed (n=14) and sham exposed (n=14) group

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 2 months

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Chamber	rats were placed in polycarbonate cages between the two coils
Setup	a pair of Helmholtz coils (diameter of 95 cm), each with 320 turns of 2.5 mm copper wire mounted on a wooden frame; distance between the coils was 33 cm
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	3 mT	-	measured	-	-

Reference articles

Tayefi H et al. (2010): The effects of prenatal and neonatal exposure to electromagnetic fields on infant rat myocardium

Exposed system:

animal
rat/Wistar
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the cardiovascular system: myocardial damage: oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde level), antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase; commercial kits and spectrophotometry) and apoptosis (TUNEL assay and caspase 3 immunoreactivity)
morphol./histopathol. changes: histological evaluation of the left ventricle (light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (uranyl acetate and lead citrate staining)

Investigated system:

tissue slices
heart (ventricle) tissue

Investigated organ system:

cardiovascular system

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In the exposed group, levels of lipid peroxidation significantly increased and enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase decreased compared with the sham exposed group.
The number of TUNEL-positive cells and caspase-3 immunoreactivity increased in the exposed rats compared with the sham exposed animals.
Electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial degeneration, reduction in myofibrils, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum and perinuclear vacuolization in the exposed rats.
In conclusion, the data showed that the magnetic field exposure caused oxidative stress, apoptosis and morphologic damage in the myocardium of adult rats. The magnetic field-related changes could be the result of increased oxidative stress.

Study character:

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

Study funded by

Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey

Wang Y et al. (2019): Exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field at 100 µT exerts no DNA damage in cardiomyocytes
Kerimoglu G et al. (2016): Effects of long-term exposure to 900 megahertz electromagnetic field on heart morphology and biochemistry of male adolescent rats
Turedi S et al. (2015): The effects of prenatal exposure to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field on the 21-day-old male rat heart
Emre M et al. (2011): Oxidative stress and apoptosis in relation to exposure to magnetic field
Akdag MZ et al. (2010): Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field on caspase activities and oxidative stress values in rat brain
Goraca A et al. (2010): Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on the parameters of oxidative stress in heart
Martinez-Samano J et al. (2010): Effects of acute electromagnetic field exposure and movement restraint on antioxidant system in liver, heart, kidney and plasma of Wistar rats: A preliminary report
Tayefi H et al. (2010): The effects of prenatal and neonatal exposure to electromagnetic fields on infant rat myocardium
Coskun S et al. (2009): Effects of continuous and intermittent magnetic fields on oxidative parameters in vivo
Erdal N et al. (2008): Effects of Long-term Exposure of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field on Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress in Rat Liver
Falone S et al. (2008): Chronic exposure to 50Hz magnetic fields causes a significant weakening of antioxidant defence systems in aged rat brain
Turkozer Z et al. (2008): Effects of exposure to 50 Hz electric field at different strengths on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the brain tissue of guinea pigs
Canseven AG et al. (2008): Effects of various extremely low frequency magnetic fields on the free radical processes, natural antioxidant system and respiratory burst system activities in the heart and liver tissues
Güler G et al. (2006): Effects of static and 50 Hz alternating electric fields on superoxide dismutase activity and TBARS levels in guinea pigs
Seyhan N et al. (2006): 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
Özgüner F et al. (2005): Mobile phone-induced myocardial oxidative stress: protection by a novel antioxidant agent caffeic acid phenethyl ester