Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on skin and thyroid amine- and peptide-containing cells in rats: an immunohistochemical and morphometrical study med./bio.

By: Rajkovic V, Matavulj M, Johansson O

Published in: Environ Res 2005; 99 (3): 369-377

morphol./histopathol. changes: immunohistochemical examination of mast cells, parafollicular cells, and nerve fibers

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: repeated daily exposure, 4 h/day, 7 days a week for 1 month	electric field strength: 160 V/m unspecified (to 54 V/m) magnetic flux density: 300 µT maximum (on the side of the cage near the coil) magnetic flux density: 100 µT minimum (on the side of the cage opposite to the coil)

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	electric field magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	repeated daily exposure, 4 h/day, 7 days a week for 1 month

Exposure source	solenoid
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	12 cm
Setup	Cages were placed on both sides of the coil, perpendicular to the coil axis.Control animals were handled in the same manner as the exposed ones and were maintained in a similar environment but in the absence of EMF.
Additional info	The axis was parallel to the lines of force of the geomagnetic field (north-south direction).

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	160 V/m	unspecified	measured	-	to 54 V/m
magnetic flux density	300 µT	maximum	measured	-	on the side of the cage near the coil
magnetic flux density	100 µT	minimum	measured	-	on the side of the cage opposite to the coil

Geomagnetic field was measured to be 40 µT with an inclination of 61.2°.

Exposed system:

morphol./histopathol. changes: immunohistochemical examination or toluidine blue staining of skin and thyroid sections to demonstrate mast cells, parafollicular cells, and nerve fibers; quantitative evaluation
immune reactivity (serotonin in mast cells, substance P & calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in nerve fibers of skin; neuropeptide Y, protein gene product (PGP) & CGRP in nerve fibers, PGP in parafollicular cells of thyroid; stereological analysis)

Investigated system:

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

A significantly increased number of serotonin-positive mast cells in the skin and neuropeptide Y-containing nerve fibers in the thyroid of rats exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields was revealed compared to controls, indicating a possible electromagnetic field effect on skin and thyroid vasculature.

Study character:

Rajkovic V et al. (2010): Studies on the synergistic effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and the endocrine-disrupting compound atrazine on the thyroid gland
Rajkovic V et al. (2010): Combined exposure of peripubertal male rats to the endocrine-disrupting compound atrazine and power-frequency electromagnetic fields causes degranulation of cutaneous mast cells: a new toxic environmental hazard?
Ahmadian S et al. (2006): Effects of extremely-low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields on collagen synthesis in rat skin
Rajkovic V et al. (2006): Light and electron microscopic study of the thyroid gland in rats exposed to power-frequency electromagnetic fields
Lisi A et al. (2006): ELF non ionizing radiation changes the distribution of the inner chemical functional groups in human epithelial cell (HaCaT) culture
Rajkovic V et al. (2005): Histological characteristics of cutaneous and thyroid mast cell populations in male rats exposed to power-frequency electromagnetic fields
Rajkovic V et al. (2003): Evaluation of rat thyroid gland morphophysiological status after three months exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic field