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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Chronic exposure to 50Hz magnetic fields causes a significant weakening of antioxidant defence systems in aged rat brain. med./biol.

By: Falone S, Mirabilio A, Carbone MC, Zimmitti V, Di Loreto S, Mariggio MA, Mancinelli R, Di Ilio C, Amicarelli F
Published in: Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2008; 40 (12): 2762 - 2770 ( open external web page PubMed Entry , open external web page Journal web site )

Aim of study (according to author)
To study whether the ageing process can increase susceptibility towards extremely low frequency magnetic field mediated pro-oxidative stress, differences in the antioxidant defense systems and neurotrophic support (nerve growth factor-related gene expression and protein expression) after chronic exposure were examined in rat brains.
Background/further details:
3-months-old femals rats (n=20) and 19-months-old female rats (n=20) were randomly assigned to an exposure group and a control group. The magnetic flux density (0.1 mT) was the reference level recommended by the European Commission (1999/519/EC) for general public exposure. The experiment was performed 3 times with different rat colonies.

Endpoints

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, 50/60 Hz (AC)

Field characteristicsParameters
50 Hz
exposure duration: continuous for 10 days
magnetic flux density: 0.1 mT

FIELD View further expo parameters

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Sprague-Dawley
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

investigated material: isolated bio./chem. substance (in vitro), DNA/RNA (in vitro), cortices homogenates and extracts
investigation on living organism
investigated organ system: brain/CNS

time of investigation: before, during and after exposure

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The results showed that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields significantly affected antioxidant enzymatic capacity in both young and aged rats, although in opposite ways. Exposed young rats enhanced their neurotrophic signaling and anti-oxidative enzymatic defense. Aged rats exhibited a significant decrease in all major anti-oxidative enzymatic activities. Food intake and body weight were not affected by exposure.
The data seem to suggest that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields may act as a risk factor for the occurence of oxidative stress-based nervous system pathologies associated with ageing.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study, blind study)

Study funded by

  • Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI; Italian Space Agency), Italy
  • Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mar (Ministry of Environment and Territory), Italy

Related articles i
Glossary: 50/60 Hz, AC, animal, antioxidant, biological, biosynthesis, blind study, brain, catalase, cell, chronic exposure, CNS, colonies, control group, cortices, DNA, endpoint, enzymatic, enzymatic activities, exposed, exposure, extracts, extremely low frequency, full/main study, gene expression, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, homogenates, in vitro, kinase, magnetic fields, magnetic flux density, molecular, mRNA, nervous system, NGF, organism, oxidative, oxidative stress, pathologies, protein, protein expression, randomly, rat/Sprague-Dawley, rats, receptor, reference level, risk factor, RNA, RT-PCR, selenium, significant, species, spectrophotometry, strain, superoxide dismutase, tyrosine, Western blot, whole body exposure

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