To study the effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields at a frequency of 50 Hz on the differentiation activities of the pituitary corticotrope-derived AtT20 D16V cell line.
The cells are electrically excitable, possess high voltage-activated calcium channels, and are a good model to study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on the calcium (Ca2+)-dependent signal transmission cascade. This cell line responds to nerve growth factor by extending neurite-like processes and differentiating into neurosecretory-like cells.
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
initiated at 300 s till 660 sec
|
|
|
Exposure 2:
50 Hz
Exposure duration:
continuous for 24 h or 48 h
|
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Waveform | |
| Exposure duration | initiated at 300 s till 660 sec |
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Distance between exposed object and exposure source | 2 mm |
| Setup | The coil was lowered into the incubation chamber which was movable to get the desired MF at the location of the sample. The adherent cells on a glass cover slip were positioned 2 mm below the coil. For sham control, the current was passed into the two coil windings in opposite directions to obtain zero MF at the same time producing the same heat (37°C) as exposure experiments. |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | effective value | measured | - | - |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Waveform | |
| Exposure duration | continuous for 24 h or 48 h |
| Exposure source |
|
|---|---|
| Distance between exposed object and exposure source | 2 mm |
| Sham exposure | A sham exposure was conducted. |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | effective value | measured | - | - |
A statistically significant increase in intracellular calcium followed by a drop in intracellular pH in exposed cells was found. Exposed AtT20 D16V cells showed morphological changes in plasma membrane compared to non-exposed cells; this modification was accompanied by a rearrangement in actin filament distribution and the emergence of properties typical of peptidergic neuronal cells: the appearance of secretory-like granules in the cytosol and the increase of the neuronal differentiation marker synaptophysin in synaptic vesicles.
These findings demonstrate that exposure to 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields is responsible for the premature differentiation in AtT20 D 16 V cells.
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