Power-frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz do not affect fertility and development in rats and mice

PAPER manual 2018 Animal study Effect: no_effect Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2018.1545664 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Power-frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz do not affect fertility and development in rats and mice Ruan G, Liu X, Zhang Y, Wan B, Zhang J, Lai J, He M, & Chen C. (2018) Power-frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz do not affect fertility and development in rats and mice. Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2018.1545664 In the present study, the effects of power-frequency magnetic fields (PF-MF) on fertility and development were investigated in rats and mice. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: a sham exposure group and 30-µT, 100-µT and 500-µT PF-MF exposure groups. The rats were exposed for 24 weeks, and the exposure time for mice ranged from 18 d to 12 weeks, dependent on the different investigated end points. The rats and mice were exposed for 20 h/d. Plasma hormone levels in rats and mice were analyzed. Furthermore, pregnancy rates and implanted embryos were recorded in pregnant mice. Finally, the neonatal growth of mice was evaluated. The results showed that none of the three intensities affected the body weight and paired ovary weight in female rats. Meanwhile, none of the three intensities affected the body weight, weights of paired testes, weights of paired epididymis and sperm count in male rats. Similarly, no significant differences were found in plasma sex hormone levels between the different PF-MF exposure groups and the sham exposure group. In addition, the pregnancy rates and implanted embryos were not significantly different between the four groups. Moreover, PF-MF exposures had no effects on either the number of fetuses in pregnant mice or the growth and development of neonatal mice. tandfonline.com

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

no_effect

Population

Adult Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6J mice

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF · 0.05 MHz · Rats: 24 weeks; mice: 18 days to 12 weeks (endpoint-dependent); 20 h/day

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats and mice exposed to 50 Hz power-frequency magnetic fields at 30, 100, or 500 µT (20 h/day) showed no significant differences versus sham in body/organ weights, sperm count, or plasma sex hormone levels. In mice, pregnancy rates, implanted embryos, number of fetuses, and neonatal growth/development were not significantly different between exposure and sham groups.

Outcomes measured

Body weight (female rats)
Paired ovary weight (female rats)
Body weight (male rats)
Paired testes weight (male rats)
Paired epididymis weight (male rats)
Sperm count (male rats)
Plasma sex hormone levels (rats and mice)
Pregnancy rates (mice)
Number of implanted embryos (mice)
Number of fetuses (pregnant mice)
Neonatal growth and development (mice)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Randomization/blinding not described in abstract
Details of exposure setup/verification not described in abstract

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.35)
Study evaluates 50 Hz power-frequency magnetic field exposure levels relevant to power-frequency/occupational contexts, though conducted in animals.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Rats: 24 weeks; mice: 18 days to 12 weeks (endpoint-dependent); 20 h/day"
    },
    "population": "Adult Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6J mice",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Body weight (female rats)",
        "Paired ovary weight (female rats)",
        "Body weight (male rats)",
        "Paired testes weight (male rats)",
        "Paired epididymis weight (male rats)",
        "Sperm count (male rats)",
        "Plasma sex hormone levels (rats and mice)",
        "Pregnancy rates (mice)",
        "Number of implanted embryos (mice)",
        "Number of fetuses (pregnant mice)",
        "Neonatal growth and development (mice)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rats and mice exposed to 50 Hz power-frequency magnetic fields at 30, 100, or 500 µT (20 h/day) showed no significant differences versus sham in body/organ weights, sperm count, or plasma sex hormone levels. In mice, pregnancy rates, implanted embryos, number of fetuses, and neonatal growth/development were not significantly different between exposure and sham groups.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Randomization/blinding not described in abstract",
        "Details of exposure setup/verification not described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "power-frequency magnetic field",
        "PF-MF",
        "50 Hz",
        "ELF",
        "rats",
        "mice",
        "fertility",
        "development",
        "sex hormones",
        "pregnancy",
        "sperm count",
        "30 µT",
        "100 µT",
        "500 µT"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.34999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Study evaluates 50 Hz power-frequency magnetic field exposure levels relevant to power-frequency/occupational contexts, though conducted in animals."
        }
    ]
}

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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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