Effects of 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the development of the rat cerebellum

Abstract

The effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic (EM) fields on the maturation of the rat cerebellum were studied. Newborn rats were exposed to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields under three different combinations in a specially constructed apparatus. The pups were irradiated for 7-8 h daily, with a 30-min interruption for nursing. Pups were kept with their mothers for the remainder of the time. After approximately 1, 2, or 3 weeks of exposure, the pups were killed. Control pups were sham exposed. The somatic growth of the irradiated rats did not show any significant difference from sham-exposed controls. At 1 kV/m and 10 gauss exposure, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in cerebellar mass. In rats exposed at 1 kV/m and 10 gauss, DNA and RNA levels were significantly higher than those in sham-exposed controls at 6 and 13 days of age, but at 20 days, these two biochemical constituents were similar in both groups of rats. The ELF-EM treatment had no effect on protein and cerebroside concentrations. In terms of age effects, DNA and RNA exhibited increases from 6 to 13 days of age, and declined from 13 to 20 days. Protein and cerebroside levels exhibited increases during the 6-20-day periods. In rats exposed at 100 kV/m and 1 gauss, the DNA levels were initially less than those of sham-exposed controls at 8 days of age, reached approximately the same levels at 14 days, and then were higher than those of controls at 22 days. There was, therefore, a significant ELF-EM effect as well as a significant interaction between age and ELF-EM exposure. In terms of age effects, DNA levels for both control and exposed animals increased from 8 to 14 days. From 14 to 22 days, DNA levels of exposed rats continued to increase while those of the controls decreased. This age effect was significant. RNA levels in both groups of animals showed increases from 8 to 14 days of age, but the increase was less for the irradiated animals than for the controls. From days 14 to 22, RNA levels for both groups showed a reduction, but the decrease was greater in the irradiated than in control rats. ELF-EM treatment significantly reduced protein levels at 8 days of age, but at 14 to 22 days, protein levels of exposed rats were higher than those of controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Pulsed electromagnetic fields potentiate neurite outgrowth in the dopaminergic MN9D cell line

“…Several studies have tested the effects of electromagnetic fields on neuronal process outgrowth and nerve regeneration, with mixed results (Blackman et al, ; Gona et al, ; Drucker‐Colin et al, ; Greenebaum et al, ; Macias et al, ; Shah et al, ; Schimmelpfeng et al, ; Zhang et al, ; Kim et al, ; Baptista et al, ; Koppes et al, ), perhaps as a result of the variety of signal configurations, culture conditions, or injury paradigm. To investigate the effects of this PEMF signal (Fig.…”

Effects of exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on Morris water-maze performance of prenatal and neonatal mice

“…It has also been reported that ELF-MF affects human cognition and electrophysiology (Cook et al, 2002). ELF-MF may interfere with the activity of the brain (Bawin et al, 1996;Bruner and Harvey, 1998;Gona et al, 1993;Gundersen et al, 1986;Jenrow et al, 1998), and may generate behavioral and cognitive disturbances (Lai et al, 1993;Cuccurazzu et al, 2010;Mostafa et al, 2002;Gerth et al, 1983;Lai, 1996;Lai et al, 1998;Levine et al 1995;Lyskov et al 1996). These pronounced effects are found to interfere with memory performance (Mostafa et al, 2002;Lai et al, 1998).…”

Analysis of rat testicular proteome following 30‐day exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field radiation

“…Therefore, biological effects of RF‐EMF and their consequences on human health are receiving increasing scientific interest and have now become an urgent problem. Hematological , pathological , cardiac , endocrine , reproductive , and nervous changes , and also oxidative stress , cataract , and behavioral alterations due to EMF exposure have been evaluated previously by in vivo and in vitro studies. Some recent studies using newer techniques such as immunohistochemistry have investigated effects of radiation exposure on specific proteins .…”