Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Continuous exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields induces duration- and dose-dependent apoptosis of testicular germ cells med./bio.

By: Kim HS, Park BJ, Jang HJ, Ipper NS, Kim SH, Kim YJ, Jeon SH, Lee KS, Lee SK, Kim N, Ju YJ, Gimm YM, Kim YW

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2014; 35 (2): 100-107

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the effects of an exposure to an extremely low frequency magnetic field on the testis of mice.

Background/further details

Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, the dose-related effects were examined in 4 subgroups (25 mice per subgroup): 1 a) sham exposure for 8 weeks, 1 b) exposure at 2 µT for 8 weeks, 1 c) exposure at 20 µT for 8 weeks and 1 d) exposure at 200 µT for 8 weeks.
In a second experiment the effect of the exposure duration was examined in 8 subgroups (10 mice per subgroup): 2 a) sham exposure for 2 weeks, 2 b) exposure at100 µT for 2 weeks, 2 c) sham exposure for 4 weeks, 2 d) exposure at 100 µT for 4 weeks, 2 e) sham exposure for 6 weeks, 2 f) exposure at 100 µT for 6 weeks, 2 g) sham exposure for 8 weeks and 2 h) exposure at 100 µT for 8 weeks.

Endpoint

effects on the reproductive system: sperm count, testicular germ cell apoptosis

Exposure

- 60 Hz
- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks	magnetic flux density: 2 µT
Exposure 2: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks	magnetic flux density: 20 µT
Exposure 3: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks	magnetic flux density: 200 µT
Exposure 4: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 2 weeks	magnetic flux density: 100 µT
Exposure 5: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 4 weeks	magnetic flux density: 100 µT
Exposure 6: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 6 weeks	magnetic flux density: 100 µT
Exposure 7: 60 Hz Exposure duration: continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks	magnetic flux density: 100 µT

General information

i) dosis-related effects 2 µT, 8 weeks 20 µT, 8 weeks 200 µT, 8 weeks ii) duration-related effects 100 µT, 2 weeks 100 µT, 4 weeks 100 µT, 6 weeks 100 µT, 8 weeks

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Chamber	mice were housed in non-metallic polycarbonate cages and covers
Setup	only horizontal coils were used for exposure to get transverse magnetic field direction to simulate human transverse magnetic field exposure under power lines
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	2 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	20 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	200 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposure 4

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 2 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposure 5

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 4 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposure 6

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 6 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposure 7

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous 24 hours/day for 8 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	same setup as exposure 1
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	100 µT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/BALB/c
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: testicular germ cell apoptosis (TUNEL assay, microscopy)
effects on the reproductive system: weight of testis and epididymis, sperm count (hemocytometer, microscopy), diameter of seminiferous tubules (microscopy)
body weight (every week)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
tissue slices
investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No differences regarding the weight of the body and testis were observed within the groups.
The number of apoptotic cells were significantly increased at exposures at 100 µT for 6 (group 2 f) and for 8 (group 2 h) weeks and at exposures at 20 µT (group 1 c) and 200 µT (group 1 d) for 8 weeks compared to the corresponding sham exposure groups. Additionally, the number of sperms was significantly decreased in the mice exposed for 8 weeks at 100 µT (group 2 h) and the diameter of seminiferous tubule decreased in mice exposed for 8 weeks at 200 µT (group 1 d) when compared to the corresponding sham exposure groups.
The authors conclude that continuous exposure to an extremely low frequency magnetic field could affect the testis of mice in a duration- and dose-dependent manner.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Korea Institute of Energy Technology and Planning (KETEP), Korea
Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), Korea

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Continuous exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields induces duration- and dose-dependent apoptosis of testicular germ cells med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

General information

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 3

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 4

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 5

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 6

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 7

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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