Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

An evaluation of genotoxicity in human neuronal-type cells subjected to oxidative stress under an extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic field med./bio.

Published in: Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen 2014; 775: 31-37

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of an exposure of human neuroblastoma cells to a 50 Hz magnetic field with and without co-exposure to hydrogen peroxide should be investigated.

Background/further details

Cells were exposed to the magnetic field or sham exposed for 48 h, then treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for 1 h and afterwards further exposed to the magnetic field or sham exposed for up to 72 h. The MTT assay was performed in 6 replicates, the gamma-H2AX detection was performed in 3 replicates.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for up to 120 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
  • rectangular
Exposure duration continuous for up to 120 h
Additional info a bipolar pulsed-square wave 50 Hz magnetic field was chosen with a duty cycle of 50%; rise time of the square, from peak to peak, was about 0.6 ms, resulting in an average rate of change of magnetic flux density of 3.3 T/s
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber cells were exposed in 3cm petri dishes
Setup two sets of horizontal Helmholtz coils, each of 25 cm diameter, with 40 (20 + 20) turns that were double-wrapped in order to obtain wound (active coil) or counter-wound configuration (sham exposure); active and sham coils were maintained in the same 5% CO2 incubator with a constant temperature of 37°C; samples were placed within a virtual cylinder (about 11 cm in height, and 4 cm in diameter), centered with respect to the coil system
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT peak value measured - ± 2%

Reference articles

  • Del Re B et al. (2012): Assessing LINE-1 retro-transposition activity in neuroblastoma cells exposed to extremely low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant differences were found between exposed and sham exposed cells.
The authors conclude that there is no indication for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of an exposure of human neuroblastoma cells to a 50 Hz magnetic field. A co-exposure to hydrogen peroxide had no influence on the effects of the magnetic field, either.

Study character:

Study funded by

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