Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Electromagnetic pulse exposure induces overexpression of beta amyloid protein in rats med./bio.

By: Jiang DP, Li J, Zhang J, Xu SL, Kuang F, Lang HY, Wang YF, An GZ, Li JH, Guo GZ
Published in: Arch Med Res 2013; 44 (3): 178-184
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether a single high electromagnetic pulse exposure could induce cognitive and memory impairment, thus finding a possible relationship between electromagnetic pulse exposure and Alzheimer's disease.

Background/further details

40 healthy male rats were divided into 4 groups: 3 exposure groups (100, 1000, and 10,000 pulse application) and 1 sham exposure group. All rats were sacrificed 18 months after the single exposure. 5 rats per group were used for immunohistochemistry, 5 rats for Western blot analysis.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Exposure duration: 100 pulses (i.e. 1 s)
Exposure 2:
Exposure duration: 1000 pulses (i.e. 10 s)
Exposure 3:
Exposure duration: 10,000 pulses (i.e. 100 s)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 100 pulses (i.e. 1 s)
Additional info pulse application (ultrashort pulse width and a very fast rise time; exact data not given); repetition rate 100 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
  • spark gap pulse generator
Chamber animals were placed in a special plastic box (50 cm x 40 cm x 30 cm); no metallic parts were used and animals were able to move freely in the box; box was placed on the animal platform
Setup pulse generator and an animal platform of the same height were placed in an electromagnetic shielding chamber
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 50 kV/m - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 1000 pulses (i.e. 10 s)
Additional info pulse application (ultrashort pulse width and a very fast rise time; exact data not given); repetition rate 100 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 50 kV/m - - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 10,000 pulses (i.e. 100 s)
Additional info pulse application (ultrashort pulse width and a very fast rise time; exact data not given); repetition rate 100 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 50 kV/m - - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The electromagnetic pulse exposure caused clear cognitive and memory impairment in all exposure groups compared with sham exposure at 18 months after exposure. Determination of oxidative stress indexes showed a decreased superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and glutathione content in exposure groups compared with the sham exposure group (significant only for glutathione). Immunohistochemical staining showed increased beta-amyloid protein in the exposure groups compared with the sham exposure group. Western blot analysis showed increased expressions of the amyloid beta oligomer and beta amyloid protein precursor (APP) in the exposure groups. An increased expression of LC3-II was also found.
The authors conclude that an electromagnetic pulse exposure could cause long-term impairment in cognition and memory of rats, resulting in Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms.

Study character:

Study funded by

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