Medical/biological study (experimental study)

No effect of 50 Hz magnetic field observed in a pilot study on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures and mortality in mice med./bio.

By: Keskil IS, Keskil ZA, Canseven AG, Seyhan N

Published in: Epilepsy Res 2001; 44 (1): 27-32

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether magnetic field exposure has an effect on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.

Background/further details

Pentylenetetrazol (PZT)-induced seizures in mice were used as an animal model of epilepsy to study potential therapeutic effects of magnetic fields.
20 female mice were studied in two groups: Group 1 (n=10) was exposed for one hour and after exposure PZT was injected (60 mg/kg) and the mice were observed for 30 minutes. Group 2 (n=10) was sham exposed for one hour before the PZT injection and then observed for 30 minutes.

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: seizures

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 1 h	magnetic flux density: 200 µT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 1 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Setup	circular pairs of Helmholtz coils with a diameter of 42.75 cm and a clearance of 21.375 cm, made of 154 turns of insulated copper wire; mice placed in the center of the coils
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

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

Exposed system:

animal
mouse
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: seizures (latency of first seizure onset, total seizure duration, number of seizure episodes)
mortality (due to effects of seizure)

Investigated system:

investigation on living organism

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

There was no significant effect of the 50 Hz magnetic field on the number of pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures, seizure latency, total seizure duration and mortality.
The present results failed to provide support for a therapeutic potential of magnetic fields.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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