Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Biological effects of power frequency magnetic fields: Neurochemical and toxicological changes in developing chick embryos med./bio.

By: Rajendra P, Sujatha HN, Devendranath D, Gunasekaran B, Sashidhar RB, Subramanyam C, Channakeshava

Published in: Biomagn Res Technol 2004; 2 (1): 1

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of chicken embryos to a 50 Hz magnetic field on neurotransmitter levels in the brain and tissue damage should be investigated.

Background/further details

Chicken embryos (eggs) were divided into the following groups: exposure to a magnetic field with 1) 5 µT, 2) 50 µT, 3) 100 µT and 4) a control group (remark EMF-Portal: group sizes not clear, probably n=12 each). 4 embryos of each group were investigated after 5, 10 and 15 days of exposure, respectively.

Endpoint

effects on embryo/fetus: neurotransmitter levels in the brain and tissue damage in chicken embryos

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 5, 10 and 15 days	magnetic flux density: 5 µT (± 0.25 µT)
Exposure 2: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 5, 10 and 15 days	magnetic flux density: 50 µT (± 2.5 µT)
Exposure 3: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 5, 10 and 15 days	magnetic flux density: 100 µT (± 5 µT)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 5, 10 and 15 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Chamber	incubator
Setup	a square-shaped Helmholtz coil was wound over a wooden frame of 25 Œ 25 Œ 25 cm³ and placed in an incubator; output voltage variation of coil supply was limited to less than 1% and field was uniform; to reduce the electric field in the exposure set up, the 230 V supply voltage was stepped down to 12V/15V using a transformer; all eggs maintained a uniform temperature of 35 ± 2°C

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	5 µT	-	-	-	± 0.25 µT

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 5, 10 and 15 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	50 µT	-	-	-	± 2.5 µT

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 5, 10 and 15 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	-	-	± 5 µT

Exposed system:

animal
chicken embryos (eggs)
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on embryo/fetus: tissue damage: enzyme activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase (spectrophotometry) in the whole embryo and in the liver
effects on the neurological system: levels of the neurotransmitters or precursors tyrosine, noradrenaline, tryptophan, serotonin and glutamine (HPLC) and glutamine synthetase enzyme activity (spectrophotometry) in the brain

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
tissue homogenates (whole embryo, liver)

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was a significant increase in the level of noradrenaline in the brain while there was a significant decrease in the tyrosine level after 15 days in all exposure groups compared to the control group.
The glutamine synthetase enzyme activity and the level of glutamine in the brain were significantly increased after 15 days in group 3 (100 µT) compared to the control group.
There were no significant differences between exposed eggs and the control group in the other parameters or at the other time points.
The authors conclude that exposure of chicken embryos to a 50 Hz magnetic field could affect noradrenaline and glutamate levels in the brain.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Ministry of Power, India

Cooper PD (2016): Rescue of Moribund Chicken Embryos by Extremely Low-Frequency Electric Fields
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2013): Effects of 50 Hz extremely low frequency sinusoidal magnetic fields on the apoptosis of the hearts of preincubated chicken embryos at different levels of developments
Pawlak K et al. (2013): Effect of weak electromagnetic field on cardiac work, concentration of thyroid hormones and blood aminotransferase level in the chick embryo
Roda O et al. (2011): Biological effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields on the embryonic central nervous system development. A histological and histochemical study
Lahijani MS et al. (2011): Effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on the histology, apoptosis, and expression of c-Fos and beta-catenin on the livers of preincubated white Leghorn chicken embryos
Lahijani MS et al. (2011): Effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields on histopathology and structures of brains of preincubated white Leghorn chicken embryos
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2009): Histopathological and ultrastructural studies on the effects of electromagnetic fields on the liver of preincubated white leghorn chicken embryo
Shams Lahijani M et al. (2007): Light and electron microscope studies of effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on preincubated chick embryo
Canedo L et al. (2003): Magnetic field exposure during gestation: pineal and cerebral cortex serotonin in the rat

Biological effects of power frequency magnetic fields: Neurochemical and toxicological changes in developing chick embryos med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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