Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of aluminum and extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation on oxidative stress and memory in brain of mice med./bio.

By: Deng Y, Zhang Y, Jia S, Liu J, Liu Y, Xu W, Liu L
Published in: Biol Trace Elem Res 2013; 156 (1-3): 243-252
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the synergistic effect of aluminum and extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on oxidative stress and memory in mice.

Background/further details

60 male mice were divided randomly into four groups: 1) control group, 2) extremely low frequency-magnetic field group, 3) load aluminum group (200 mg aluminum/kg), and 4) "extremely low frequency-magnetic field + aluminum" group.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 4 h daily, 6 days per week for 8 weeks

General information

60 male mice were divided into four groups: 1) control group 2) extremely low frequency-magnetic field group 3) load aluminum group (200 mg aluminum/kg) 4) "extremely low frequency-magnetic field + aluminum" group

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 4 h daily, 6 days per week for 8 weeks
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber the animal cage was placed inside the coil and remained constant during the stimulation
Setup Helmholtz coil composed of copper wire
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 2 mT spatial average measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

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

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

After 8 weeks of treatment, the mice of the three experimental groups (groups 2-4) exhibited a memory impairment (escaping latency to the platform was prolonged and percentage of time spent in the platform quadrant was reduced in the Morris water maze task). Additionally, pathologic abnormalities including neuronal cell loss and overexpression of phosphorylated tau protein in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex was found in the three experimental groups. The data showed a statistically significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and an increase in the levels of malondialdehyde in the three experimental groups compared to the control group.
However, the treatment with magnetic field + aluminum induced no more damage than the magnetic field and aluminum alone (i.e. no synergistic effect).
In conclusion, both aluminum and extremely low frequency magnetic field could affect memory and pro-oxidative function in mice. However, there was no evidence of any association between extremely low frequency electromagnetic exposure with aluminum loading.

Study character:

Study funded by

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