Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The energy metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans under the extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure med./bio.

Published in: Sci Rep 2015; 5: 8471

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the energy metabolism should be investigated.

Background/further details

Energy metabolism enhancement is a known adaptive response to stress situations and Caenorhabditis elegans is a typical model organism to study the effects of environmental influences on biological systems.
Eggs and worms were either exposed to 0.5 mT (group 1), 1 mT (group 2), 2 mT (group 3), 3 mT (group 4) or not exposed (control group). All results were obtained from at least 3 replicates of the tests.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 48 h
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 48 h
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 48 h
Exposure 4: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for up to 30 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 48 h
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup two vertical Helmholtz coils (150 turns of copper wire with diameter of 1 mm) in an incubator; culture dishes were placed in the center of the coils; temperature was recorded during exposure (temperature level not specified)
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.5 mT - measured - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 48 h
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT - measured - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 48 h
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 2 mT - measured - -

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for up to 30 days
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 3 mT - measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The tests on hatching rate and brood size showed no significant differences between exposure group 4 and the control group.
The amount of single metabolites was significantly increased in different exposure groups compared to the control group, without showing a regular trend with increasing magnetic flux densities or consistent results in the exposure groups. The gene expression of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase-1 and -4, the GAPDH level and the enzyme activity were significantly increased in exposure group 4 compared to the control group, whereas the ATP level did not show any significant differences.
The food consumption was significantly decreased in exposure group 4 compared to the control group, while the mortality was not changed significantly.
The authors conclude that exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to a 50 Hz magnetic field could enhance the energy metabolism while restricting the food intake.

Study character:

Study funded by

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