Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of 50 Hz electric field in diacylglycerol acyltransferase mRNA expression level and plasma concentration of triacylglycerol, free fatty acid, phospholipid and total cholesterol. med./bio.

By: Hori T, Harakawa S, Herbas SM, Ueta YY, Inoue N, Suzuki H

Published in: Lipids Health Dis 2012; 11: 68-

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of exposure to a 50 Hz electric field on plasma level of triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, total cholesterol and phospholipid and mRNA expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes (which encode enzymes involved in the synthesis of triacylglycerol ) in liver and intestines from mice.

Background/further details

Six mice were exposed and six mice were sham exposed.

Endpoint

molecular biosynthesis: lipogenesis pathway and triacylglycerol synthesis

Exposure

- 50 Hz
- 50/60 Hz
- electric field
- low frequency

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min/day for 11 days	electric field strength: 45 kV/m effective value

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min/day for 11 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	stainless steel electrodes
Setup	20 cm high cylindrical plastic cage with a diameter of 20 cm (with 10 cm long and 0,5 cm wide slits at 5 mm intervals); 1m x 60 cm stainless steel electrodes on top and at the bottom of the cage
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	45 kV/m	effective value	measured	-	-

Reference articles

Harakawa S et al. (2008): Effect of electric field in conditioned aversion response.
Harakawa S et al. (2005): Effects of exposure to a 50 Hz electric field on plasma levels of lactate, glucose, free Fatty acids, triglycerides and creatine phosphokinase activity in hind-limb ischemic rats.
Hori T et al. (2005): Exposure of C57BL/6J male mice to an electric field improves copulation rates with superovulated females.
Harakawa S et al. (2005): Effects of a 50 Hz electric field on plasma lipid peroxide level and antioxidant activity 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.

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/C57BL/6J
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: gene expression of diacylglycerol-o-acyltransferase genes 1 and 2 in liver and intestines (quantitative Real-time PCR); plasma level of triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, total cholesterol and phospholipid (as marker correlated with the lipogenesis pathway; analyzer)
body weight

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA
blood samples
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

liver and intestine

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The diacylglycerol-o-acyltransferase gene 2 (DGAT2) expression in the liver of exposed mice was significantly lower than that of the control. Additionally, both plasma total cholesterol and phospholipid in the exposed mice were lower than those in the control. However, there was no difference in DGAT1 expression, triacylglycerol or free fatty acid levels.
The mechanisms for the effects of electric fields on lipid metabolism are not well understood yet, but altered DGAT2 activity may be involved.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

HAKUJU Institute for Health Science Company, Japan

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