Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Long-term exposure of cockroach Blaptica dubia (Insecta: Blaberidae) nymphs to magnetic fields of different characteristics: effects on antioxidant biomarkers and nymphal gut mass med./bio.

Published in: Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95 (8): 1185-1193

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of chronic exposure of orange-spotted cockroach nymphs to a static magnetic field or 50 Hz magnetic field on gut mass and antioxidant markers should be investigated.

Background/further details

Nymphs of orange-spotted cockroach (Blaptica dubia) were divided into the following groups at the age of one month (n=10, respectively): 1) exposure to a static magnetic field, 2) exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field, 3) control group.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Exposure duration: for 5 months
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: for 5 months

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Exposure duration for 5 months
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber 3-5 nymphs in Petri dishes
Setup a double-U shaped permanent magnet; Petri dishes were placed between the poles (distance 4.5 cm); the magnetic field lines were parallel to the vertical component of the
geomagnetic field; the temperature was stable during the experiment with 26 ± 0.2°C
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 110 mT - measured - field homogeneity ± 26.87%

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration for 5 months
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber see field 1
Setup electromagnet consisting of a regular laminated transformer core surrounded by three pairs of coils; each coil was made of 84 copper wires (1 mm in diameter); the surface of the poles was 44.6 cm2 with a 7.5 cm space
between them; the magnetic field lines were parallel to the vertical component of the geomagnetic field; the average temperature was 26.3 ± 0.05°C
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 10 mT mean measured - approximate value with uniformity of ± 69.12%

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The average weight of the gut was significantly reduced in exposed nymphs (groups 1 and 2) compared to the control group. The enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased in exposed nymphs of groups 1 and 2 compared to the control group, while the enzyme activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly reduced. In addition, the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase in group 2 (exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field) were significantly increased compared to group 1 (exposure to static magnetic field). The total glutathione content showed no significant differences between the groups.
The authors conclude that chronic exposure of orange-spotted cockroach nymphs to a static magnetic field or 50 Hz magnetic field could alter the weight of the gut and the investigated antioxidative markers.

Study character:

Study funded by

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