Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Electromagnetic field-induced converse cell growth during a long-term observation med./bio.

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2013; 89 (12): 1035-1044

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effect of magnetic field exposure on the cell proliferation of cancer cells.

Background/further details

In a previous study of the authors (Koh et al., 2008), an inhibitory effect of exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field on the cell proliferation of cancer cells was observed. The present study was originally designed to analyze the molecular mechanisms of this inhibitory effect. However, the previous and the present study showed contradictory results. Therefore, the effect of magnetic field-exposure on the cell proliferation of cancer cells was observed over a long time period. During 5 years, experiments were consistently repeated. Hereby, the cell cultures were started from the same cryoculture, respectively. Every experiment started with a 24 hours pre-incubation step. Afterwards, cells were treated with one of the following conditions for three days: 1.) not exposed, 2.) sham exposed or 3.) exposed. For sham exposure and exposure, three different incubators were used. The experiments were conducted in duplicates.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 3 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 60 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 3 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup Helmholtz coils were comprised of 3 rectangular bundles (2,000-turns per bundle, 0.5 mm diameter of copper wire) on open acrylic frames, aligned in parallel 20 cm apart (28 Π28 Π30 cm); for electromagnetic field exposure, electric current passed through Helmholtz coils, was generated by rheostat connected to a voltage transformer
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT - - - -

Reference articles

  • Koh EK et al. (2008): A 60-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through reactive oxygen species

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Both cell types, independently if exposed or sham exposed, showed positive and negative differences in cell proliferation throughout the years compared to the control cell cultures. These effects occurred in a period-dependent manner and differed between the used incubators.
The authors conclude that the observed spatiotemporal differences in the present study may partially explain the poor reproducibility and controversial results of many experimental and epidemiological studies.

Study character:

Study funded by

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