Electric Field Effects on Guinea Pig Serum: The Role of Free Radicals

Abstract

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).

Effects of electromagnetic fields on serum lipids in workers of a power plant

“…Consistent with our results, Güler et al (2007) reported that there were no statistically significant changes for serum levels of TC, HDL-c, and TG between 50-Hz EF-exposed Guinea pigs and the controls. These findings were in accordance with those of another study that was conducted in static MF-exposed rats (Aida et al -2013).…”

“…Nevertheless, another study reported that exposure to static MF for 5 days failed to alter plasma TC and TG levels, while exposure to static MF for 15 days increased plasma TC level, whereas decreased TG level (Lahbib et al 2010). Moreover, Güler et al (2007) reported that although increases were found in serum TC, LDL-c, and HDL-c of guinea pigs exposed to different intensities and directions of EF, these increment levels were not statistically significant with regard to controls. These data together with our results suggest that the effects on serum lipids are more significant in longer time periods of EMF exposure, and different frequencies, intensities, and durations of EMF exposure may have the different effects on serum lipids.…”

“…Nevertheless, another human study reported that compared with radio relay station operators, significantly higher serum TC and LDL-c were found both in broadcasting station and TV station operators, with no change of serum TG and HDL-c (Vangelova et al 2006). In addition, many animal studies also reported that exposure to EMF could influence plasma or serum TC and TG, with few studies concerning serum LDL-c and HDL-c, but the results were inconsistent across studies (Bellossi et al 1998;Celikozlu et al 2012;Güler et al 2007;Hori et al 2012;Lahbib et al 2010;Lee et al 2006;Luo et al 2007;Portet and Cabanes 1988;Torres-Duran et al 2007).…”

Protein oxidation under extremely low frequency electric field in guinea pigs. Effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment

“…Therefore, several investigations were performed on free radical production and antioxidant system of the tissues and blood samples under the effects of magnetic fields (Lupke et al 2004;Zmyslony et al 2004;Bediz et al 2006;Simko et al 2006) and E fields (Harakawa et al 2005;Güler et al 2006, Güler et al 2007). Free radicals target structural molecules such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.…”

The effects of prenatal and neonatal exposure to electromagnetic fields on infant rat myocardium

“…Ozguner et al reported an increase in lipid peroxidation in rat heart following exposure to EMF [5]. Antioxidant defences and repair systems which help to protect cells against free radical destruction include superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) [6, 7]. There are several reports which indicate that exposure to EMF reduces antioxidant enzyme activities in rat tissues [8, 9].…”