Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect transcript levels of neuronal differentiation-related genes in embryonic neural stem cells med./bio.

Published in: PLoS One 2014; 9 (3): e90041

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To investigate whether exposure to a 50 Hz-magnetic field influences the proliferation and differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells.

Background/further details

Cell cultures were subjected to different magnetic flux densities (0.5, 1 or 2 mT for 3 days) and exposure times (2 mT for 1, 2 or 3 days).

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 3 days
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 1, 2 or 3 days
different exposure durations

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 3 days
Additional info different magnetic flux densities
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber cells were exposed in plates with 96 wells (cell viability) or in 35 mm Petri dishes
Setup exposure system was composed of two four-coil systems (two coils with 56 windings, two coils with 50 windings) and placed inside a µ-metal chamber; both chambers were placed inside an incubator (37°C ± 0.5°C, while temperature variance between the chambers did not exceed 0.3°C; 5% CO2; 95% humidity)
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.5 mT minimum - - -
magnetic flux density 1 mT - - - -
magnetic flux density 2 mT maximum - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent 5 min on/10 min off for 1, 2 or 3 days
Additional info different exposure durations
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 2 mT - - - -

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant differences between exposed and sham exposed cell cultures were observed regarding cell proliferation, diameter of neurospheres, cell cycle distribution, DNA synthesis, and the percentages of neurons and astrocytes. However, in exposed cell cultures, the gene expression of Math1, Math2, Ngn1 and Tuj1 was significantly increased compared to the sham exposed cell cultures, while the level of Sox2 was significantly decreased.
The authors conclude that exposure of embryonic neural stem cells to a 50 Hz-magnetic field could have an influence on the mRNA levels of genes related to neural differentiation.

Study character:

Study funded by

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