Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Effect of Exposure to Static, High Voltage Electric Field Generated Nearby HVDC Transmission Lines on Antioxidant Activity of Hepatocytes in Rats. med./biol.

full article

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the effect of long-term exposure to strong, static electric field generated by high voltage direct current transmission lines on activity of some antioxidant enzymes in liver homogenates of rats.
Background/further details:
64 (96?; contradictory statements in the abstract and methods) male rats were divided into one/two exposure group(s) (contradictory statements) and a sham exposure group (each group n=32). At 14, 28, 56 days of exposure as well as at 28 days after exposure termination, 8 rats were killed and investigated.

Endpoint

• oxidative stress in the liver of rats

Exposure
General category: static electric field, DC, power transmission line, high-voltage direct current (HVDC)

Field characteristics	Parameters
DC/static exposure duration: continuous for 8 h/day for up to 56 days	electric field strength: 25 kV/m

Exposed system:
animal (species/strain): rat/Wistar
whole body exposure

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• oxidative stress in the liver of rats (enzyme activities of catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase (spectrophotometry); malondialdehyde level

Main outcome of study (according to author)
Enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were significantly increased in the electric field-exposed group at the 56^th day of exposure and enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase significantly decreased at the 14^th day of exposure. No statistically significant changes were found in the enzyme activities of catalase and glutathione S-transferase both during and after the end of exposure.
Additionally, in exposed rats a significant decrease in malondialdehyde concentration in liver homogenates at 28 days after the end of exposure was found as compared to the control group.
The authors conclude, that strong static electric fields with characteristics of those generated by high voltage direct current transmission lines do not cause any persistent unfavorable effects on antioxidant reactions in the liver of rodents.

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

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