Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Immunomodulatory effects of L-carnitine and q10 in mouse spleen exposed to low-frequency high-intensity magnetic field med./bio.

By: Arafa HM, Abd-Allah ARA, El-Mahdy MA, Ramadan LA, Hamada FM

Published in: Toxicology 2003; 187 (2-3): 171-181

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of mice to a 50 Hz magnetic field and of a co-exposure with two immunostimulating substances on some immune parameters should be investigated.

Background/further details

Mice were divided into the following groups (n=6 each): 1) sodium chloride solution administration and exposure to the magnetic field, 2) coenzyme Q10 administration (200 mg/kg oral) and exposure and 3) L-carnitine administration (200 mg/kg intraperitoneal) and exposure. For each exposure group, a respective control group with the same administrations but without exposure was used. Administrations were conducted every second day 1 hour before the start of exposure.

Endpoint

effects on the immune system: immune parameters in blood and spleen

Exposure

- 50 Hz
- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field
- co-exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min/day, 3 days/week (every other day) for 2 weeks	magnetic flux density: 20 mT (vertical field)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 30 min/day, 3 days/week (every other day) for 2 weeks

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	three rectangular coils (each 22 cm x 12 cm with 760 turns of 1 mm copper wire) connected in parallel and wrapped around a wooden frame; up to 12 mice were placed inside the coil system, which was closed at both ends with plexiglass windows

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	20 mT	-	measured	-	vertical field

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/Swiss albino
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: spleen cell viability (trypan blue dye, haemocytometer), proliferation of T lymphocytes (stimulation with lectin or concanavalin A) and B lymphocytes (stimulation with lipopolysaccharides) (³H thymidine incorporation; scintillation counting), total blood count of white blood cells, differential count of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils (blood film, Giemsa stain, microscopy)
effects on the immune system: see "cell viability/cell division/proliferation"
body weight, spleen/body weight ratio

Investigated system:

Investigated organ system:

immune system

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Injections with salt solutions and exposure to the magnetic field (group 1) resulted in a significantly decreased spleen cell viability, proliferation of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, total count of white blood cells and body weight and a significantly increased amount of monocytes compared to the respective control group.
When injected with L-carnitine and exposed to the magnetic field (group 3), almost all these effects vanished and no significant differences were observed compared to the salt injected control group anymore. This protective effect was not detected in mice injected with coenzyme Q10 and exposure to the magnetic field (group 2).
The authors conclude that exposure of mice to a 50 Hz magnetic field might have adverse effects on the immune system and that co-exposure with L-carnitine, but not with coenzyme Q10, could mitigate these effects.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Sobhanifard M et al. (2019): Effect of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Expression of T-bet and GATA-3 Genes and Serum Interferon-γ and Interleukin-4
Mahaki H et al. (2019): The effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on c-Maf, STAT6, and RORα expressions in spleen and thymus of rat
Mahdavinejad L et al. (2018): Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Decrease Serum Levels of Interleukin-17, Transforming Growth Factor-β and Downregulate Foxp3 Expression in the Spleen
Zhang H et al. (2016): Protective effect of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod on immune function injury induced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic field
Luo X et al. (2016): Occupational exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields does not alter responses of inflammatory genes and activation of splenic lymphocytes in mice
Cakir DU et al. (2009): Alterations of Hematological Variations in Rats Exposed to Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields (50Hz)
Cicekcibasi AE et al. (2008): Determination of the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on the percentages of peripheral blood leukocytes and histology of lymphoid organs of the mouse
Bonhomme-Faivre L et al. (2003): Effects of electromagnetic fields on the immune systems of occupationally exposed humans and mice
Marino AA et al. (2000): Nonlinear response of the immune system to power-frequency magnetic fields
Thun-Battersby S et al. (1999): Lymphocyte subset analyses in blood, spleen and lymph nodes of female Sprague-Dawley rats after short or prolonged exposure to a 50 Hz 100-microT magnetic field
Mevissen M et al. (1998): Complex effects of long-term 50 Hz magnetic field exposure in vivo on immune functions in female Sprague-Dawley rats depend on duration of exposure
House RV et al. (1996): Immune function and host defense in rodents exposed to 60-Hz magnetic fields