Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The effects of chronic AC magnetic field on contraction and relaxation of isolated thoracic aorta rings of healthy and diabetic rats med./bio.

Published in: Braz Arch Biol Technol 2004; 47 (5): 733-738

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of a chronic exposure of healthy and diabetic rats to a 50 Hz magnetic field on vasoconstriction and vasodilation of isolated thoracic aorta rings should be investigated.

Background/further details

Diabetic rats were created by the injection of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin, a toxin which selectively destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. Healthy rats received a (sham) injection with citrate buffer.
60 rats were divided into 4 groups (n=15 each): 1) exposure of healthy rats to the magnetic field, 2) exposure of diabetic rats to the magnetic field, 3) healthy rats control group, 4) diabetic rats control group.
After exposure, all rats were killed and the thoracic aorta was isolated. 3-4 mm long aorta rings were prepared and placed in a bath with test solution including either a vasoconstrictor (10-7 M phenylephrine) or vasodilator (10-6 M acetylcholine or 10-6 M sodium nitroprusside, respectively).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent (30 min on - 15 min off) for 2 h/day during 1 month

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent (30 min on - 15 min off) for 2 h/day during 1 month
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup exposure chamber was placed inside the coil; magnetic field had a north-south orientation
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 5 mT - measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

(Remark EMF-Portal: the statistical significance of the results was not stated clearly in the text and tables and could therefore not be regarded in the following.)
The weight of healthy rats (groups 1 and 3) increased over time, whereas the weight of diabetic rats (groups 2 and 4) decreased over time.
In healthy and diabetic rats exposed to the magnetic field (groups 1 and 2) in comparison to their corresponding control groups (groups 3 and 4), the vasoconstriction force decreased after addition of phenylephrine while the vasodilation increased after addition of acetylcholine, but not after addition of sodium nitroprusside.
The authors conclude that chronic exposure of healthy and diabetic rats to a 50 Hz magnetic field might have an effect on vasoconstriction and vasodilation of isolated thoracic aorta rings.

Study character:

Study funded by

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