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The present study was carried out to investigate the potential effects of ELF (extremely low frequency) electric field exposure on generating free radicals in guinea pigs. For this purpose, we determined thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, one of the byproducts of lipid peroxidation, the changes of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), as an antioxidant enzyme, and gamma-Glutamyl transferase (GGT) as the key enzyme in GSH metabolism. Moreover, in order to investigate electric field effects on functions of organs, we measured the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), urea, uric acid, creatin, glucose, and blood-urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum of guinea pigs exposed to different intensities and directions electric fields. In this study we have found that vertical and horizontal application of ELF electric fields in the range of 1.35, 1.5, and 1.8 kV/m increased TBARS and SOD levels as compared to the controls (p < 0.05) and to applied electric fields of 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 kV/m. On the other hand, other serum levels of some biochemical parameters that were also investigated did not undergo statistically significant changes (p > 0.05).

Abstract. Modern age exposes humans to an increasing level of electromagnetic activity in their environment due to overhead power lines and transformers around residential areas. Studies have shown that treatment with antioxidants can suppress the oxidative damage induced by electromagnetic fields in various frequencies of the non-ionizing radiation band. In this study, we detected protein carbonyl content (PCO), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in liver and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels in plasma of guinea pigs in order to investigate the effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) administration on oxidative protein damage induced by power frequency electric (E) field (50 Hz, 12 kV/m, 7 days/ 8 h/day). We also analyzed hepatic hydroxyproline level to study protein synthesis. According to the findings of the present study, no statistically significant changes occurred in PCO, AOPP and 3-NT levels of the guinea pigs that were exposed to the E field with respect to the control group. However, liver hydroxyproline level was significantly diminished in the E field exposure group compared to the control and PCO, hydroxyproline and 3-NT levels changed significantly in the NAC-administrated groups.

To conclude, extremely low frequency (ELF) electric field has potential harmful effects on the living organisms by enhancing the free radical production. NAC and EGCG might have hepatoprotective effects in ELF-E field induced oxidative and nitrosative stress.

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