The effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure on apoptosis, neurodegeneration and trace element levels in the rat brain

PAPER manual 2023 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → Evidence Lab

Abstract

The effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure on apoptosis, neurodegeneration and trace element levels in the rat brain Çakıt M O, Koca G, Akbulut A, Erdem O, Çetinkaya S, Umurhan G, Aydınbelge-dizdar N, Esmekaya M, Yumuşak N, Canseven Kurşun AG , Korkmaz M. The effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure on apoptosis, neurodegeneration and trace element levels in the rat brain. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2023; 5(2): 102-110. Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 1mT, 1.5 mT, and 2 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, which were within the limits for public environmental and occupational magnetic field exposure guidelines, on apoptosis, neurodegeneration and trace elements in rat brain cells. Material and Method: A total of 35 adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four main groups: Group 1 (n=8) was healthy controls; Group 2 (n=9) was exposed to 1 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field; Group 3 (n=9) was exposed to 1.5 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field and Group 4 (n=9) was exposed to 2 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field. All the rats in the exposure groups were exposed to 50 Hz extremely low-frequency magnetic field for 4 hours per day, 5 days per week for 30 days in the Helmholtz coils. After the exposure, rats were sacrificed and rat brains were evaluated for histopathological and immunohistochemical changes as well as about the trace element levels in the brain. Results: Different levels of exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field doses caused increases in Ca levels and increased apoptosis in the rat brain. As the applied extremely low-frequency magnetic field levels increased, so did the apoptosis and Ca levels in the brain tissues. Conclusion: Extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure caused neurodegeneration in rat brain tissue, increased apoptosis, and increased Ca concentration. These changes may cause various biological damage, especially cancer in healthy tissues and measures should be taken to minimize extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure in daily life in terms of protecting public health. Open access paper: dergipark.org.tr

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Adult male Wistar rats

Sample size

Exposure

ELF other · 0.05 MHz · 4 hours/day, 5 days/week for 30 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Rats exposed to 50 Hz extremely low-frequency magnetic fields at 1 mT, 1.5 mT, or 2 mT showed increased apoptosis and increased brain Ca levels compared with controls. The abstract reports that higher field levels were associated with greater apoptosis and Ca increases, and concludes ELF-MF exposure caused neurodegeneration in rat brain tissue.

Outcomes measured

Apoptosis in rat brain (histopathological/immunohistochemical)
Neurodegeneration in rat brain tissue
Trace element levels in brain tissue (including Ca)

Limitations

Frequency and exposure metrics beyond 50 Hz and magnetic flux density (mT) not detailed in abstract
No quantitative results or statistical details provided in abstract
Only adult male Wistar rats studied; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.35)
Exposure levels discussed as within public environmental and occupational guideline limits; ELF magnetic field exposure paradigm relevant to occupational contexts.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "other",
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "4 hours/day, 5 days/week for 30 days"
    },
    "population": "Adult male Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": 35,
    "outcomes": [
        "Apoptosis in rat brain (histopathological/immunohistochemical)",
        "Neurodegeneration in rat brain tissue",
        "Trace element levels in brain tissue (including Ca)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 50 Hz extremely low-frequency magnetic fields at 1 mT, 1.5 mT, or 2 mT showed increased apoptosis and increased brain Ca levels compared with controls. The abstract reports that higher field levels were associated with greater apoptosis and Ca increases, and concludes ELF-MF exposure caused neurodegeneration in rat brain tissue.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Frequency and exposure metrics beyond 50 Hz and magnetic flux density (mT) not detailed in abstract",
        "No quantitative results or statistical details provided in abstract",
        "Only adult male Wistar rats studied; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low-frequency magnetic field",
        "ELF-MF",
        "50 Hz",
        "1 mT",
        "1.5 mT",
        "2 mT",
        "rat brain",
        "apoptosis",
        "neurodegeneration",
        "trace elements",
        "calcium",
        "Helmholtz coils"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Exposure levels discussed as within public environmental and occupational guideline limits; ELF magnetic field exposure paradigm relevant to occupational contexts."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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