Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Biological effects of power frequency magnetic fields on serum biochemical parameters in guinea pigs med./bio.

Published in: Pak J Biol Sci 2006; 9 (6): 1083-1087

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate the potential effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on biochemical parameters in the serum of guinea pigs.

Background/further details

The animals were divided into four groups (n=36 per group): 1.) sham exposure, 2.) exposure for 1 hour, 3.) exposure for 2 hours, and 4.) exposure for 4 hours. They were exposed or sham exposed on five consecutive days and blood samples were taken on the sixth day.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 1 h/day, 2 h/day or 4 h/day on 5 consecutive days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 1 h/day, 2 h/day or 4 h/day on 5 consecutive days
Additional info Remark EMF-Portal: also 5 Hz written in the chapter which explains the magnetic field exposure, but apart from that always 50 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup pair of double-wound coils with an inner diameter of 42 cm; coils mounted horizontally above and below the cage with a distance of 32 cm between them
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.0207 µT - measured - -

Reference articles

  • Kula B (1985): [Effect of an electric field of industrial frequency on selected biochemical parameters in the guinea pig liver]

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In the 2 hours-exposure group, the content of total protein in the serum was significantly decreased in comparison to the control group. The levels of beta-globulin (also in 4 hours-group) and gamma-globulin were significantly decreased in the 1 and 2 hours-exposure groups when compared to the sham exposure.
The enzyme activity of the aspartate aminotransferase was significantly increased in the 4 hours-exposure group compared to the sham exposure while the enzyme activities of the gamma-glutamyltransferase and the malate dehydrogenase were significantly decreased.
In exposed guinea pigs, the total lipid and cholesterol levels were significantly decreased (in the 2 and 4 hours-group) as well as the triglyceride levels (in the 4 hours-group) in comparison to sham exposed animals. Additionally, an exposure for 4 hours daily led to a significant increase in the levels of lipoproteins, cortisol, and glucose in the serum.
The authors conclude that the exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields, especially for four hours daily, could have led to biochemical changes in the serum of guinea pigs.

Study character:

Study funded by

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