Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Coupling of oxidative stress responses to tricarboxylic acid cycle and prostaglandin E2 alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans under extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field med./bio.

By: Sun Y, Shi Z, Wang Y, Tang C, Liao Y, Yang C, Cai P

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2018; 94 (12): 1159-1166

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the effects of exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the metabolism of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Background/further details

Two groups of worms were examined: 1) exposure group and 2) control group.

Endpoint

effects on invertebrates: tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative stress

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: Exposure duration: circa 48 hours (from egg to the fourth larval stage)	magnetic flux density: 3 mT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure duration	circa 48 hours (from egg to the fourth larval stage)

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Chamber	5,000 eggs (and later on worms) were cultivated and exposed in one plate
Setup	exposure system consisted of five parts including a power regulator, two Helmholtz coils, an incubator, a temperature recorder and a temperature control system; two vertical coils (150 turns of 1mm copper wire) were placed in the incubator and connected in parallel; three culture plates were put simultaneously in the center of the coils where the magnetic field was uniform; a silicone tube connected to a condenser was wound around the coils to keep the temperature at 20 °C (± 0.10 °C)
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	control samples were handled identically except for the magnetic field exposure

Parameters

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

Reference articles

Shi Z et al. (2015): The energy metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans under the extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure

Exposed system:

invertebrate
nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans)/wild type (strain N2)
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: gene expression of genes involved in the TCA cycle: fum-1 and mdh-2 (n=15,000 worms) (quantitative real-time PCR); protein expression of FUM-1 and MDH-2 (n=30,000 worms) (Western blot); synthesis of arachidonic acid (ArA) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) (n=15,000 worms) (gas chromatography mass spectrometry); protein expression of prostaglandin E₂ synthase (n=15,000 worms) (Western blot)
oxidative stress: level of reactive oxygen species (n=300 worms) (dichlorofluorescein staining, fluorescence microscopy), total antioxidant capacity, enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase (n=15,000 worms) (commercial assay, spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
worm homogenates

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Gene expression of fum-1 and mdh-2 was significantly decreased under magnetic field exposure when compared to the control group. This effect was verified for FUM-1 via Western blot. The levels of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E₂ were significantly increased in the exposed worms in comparison to the control ones. Additionally, the protein expression of the prostaglandin E₂ synthase was significantly increased.
In exposed worms, the level of reactive oxygen species was significantly increased compared to control ones while the total antioxidant capacity was significantly decreased.
The authors conclude, that exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields affects the tricarboxylic acid cycle and prostaglandin E₂ synthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans and that these alterations are coupled to oxidative stress responses.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Chinese Academy of Sciences
State Grid Corporation, China (SGCC)

Wang Y et al. (2020): Enhancement in the ATP level and antioxidant capacity of Caenorhabditis elegans under continuous exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field for multiple generations
Sun Y et al. (2019): Lipidomic alteration and stress-defense mechanism of soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in response to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure
Shi Z et al. (2015): The energy metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans under the extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure
Kuzna-Grygiel W et al. (2005): Effect of electric power network frequency magnetic field on embryonic development of Ascaris suum (Nematoda)
Miyakawa T et al. (2001): Exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to extremely low frequency high magnetic fields induces stress responses
Gutzeit HO (2001): Biological Effects Of ELF-EMF Enhanced Stress Response: New Insights And New Questions
Junkersdorf B et al. (2000): Electromagnetic fields enhance the stress response at elevated temperatures in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Bessho K et al. (1995): Biological responses in Caenorhabditis elegans to high magnetic fields