Rageh MM, El-Gebaly RH, El-Bialy NS. · 2012
Researchers exposed newborn rats continuously to a 50 Hz, 0.5 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field for 30 days, starting when the rats were 10 days old. DNA damage in brain cells, measured by comet assay, was significantly higher in the exposed group. Exposure was associated with a significant four-fold increase in micronucleus induction and about a three-fold increase in mitotic index in bone marrow cells. Exposed rats also showed significantly higher levels of MDA and SOD, while ELF-MF failed to alter the activity of GSH.
Szemerszky R, Zelena D, Barna I, Bárdos G. · 2010
Researchers exposed adult male Sprague-Dawley rats to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields at 0.5 mT, either for 5 days at 8 hours daily or for 4 to 6 weeks at 24 hours daily. Neither exposure duration produced the body changes associated with chronic stress, such as body weight reduction, thymus involution, or adrenal gland hypertrophy. After long-term exposure, rats showed elevated proopiomelanocortin and depressive-like behavior, and blood glucose was also higher. The researchers noted that the exposure intensity used was much higher than typical human exposure.
Szemerszky R, Zelena D, Barna I, Bárdos G. · 2010
Researchers exposed rats to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields (household electrical frequency) for weeks and found increased blood sugar, stress hormones, and depression-like behavior compared to short-term exposure. This suggests chronic EMF exposure may act as a mild stressor affecting mood and metabolism.
Janać B, Tovilović G, Tomić M, Prolić Z, Radenović L. · 2009
Serbian researchers exposed rats to power line frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz) for up to seven days. The exposure significantly altered serotonin brain receptors that control mood and behavior, with effects becoming stronger over longer exposure periods. This suggests household electrical fields may impact brain chemistry.
Janać B, Tovilović G, Tomić M, Prolić Z, Radenović L. · 2009
Researchers exposed adult Wistar rats continuously to an extremely low frequency magnetic field (50 Hz, 0.5 mT) for 1, 3, and 7 days. The study examined serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptors in the prefrontal cortex and dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors in the striatum, considering their involvement in motor behavior regulation. Serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor affinity decreased and density increased in the prefrontal cortex, with the affinity effect being most prominent after 7 days of exposure. Dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptors in the striatum showed no significant effect on either affinity or density.
Balassa T, Szemerszky R, Bárdos G. · 2009
Researchers exposed rats to a 50 Hz electromagnetic field and then tested situational and social anxiety as well as locomotor activity. The tests used included the elevated plus-maze, novel object exploration, social interaction, and territoriality assessments. The researchers found that the field parameters may cause discomfort and may influence behavior, but there was no verified effect on social and territorial behavior.
Jelenković A et al. · 2006
Researchers exposed adult male Wistar rats to a 50 Hz, 0.5 mT extremely low-frequency magnetic field for 7 days, while control rats were sham-exposed. Superoxide dismutase activities and production of superoxide radicals, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide were examined in the frontal cortex, striatum, basal forebrain, hippocampus, brainstem, and cerebellum. Superoxide radicals were significantly increased in all regions examined, and lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the basal forebrain and frontal cortex. The researchers indicated that the 7-day exposure can be harmful to the brain, especially to the basal forebrain and frontal cortex due to development of lipid peroxidation.
Wolf FI et al. · 2005
Researchers exposed HL-60 leukemia cells, Rat-1 fibroblasts, and WI-38 diploid fibroblasts to 0.5–1.0-mT 50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields for 24–72 hours. The treatment produced a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation, with about a 30% increase after 72 hours of exposure to 1.0 mT. A dose-dependent increase in DNA damage was observed in all cell lines, with two peaks occurring at 24 and 72 hours. Both effects were prevented by pretreatment with α-tocopherol, suggesting that redox reactions were involved.
Simkó M, Droste S, Kriehuber R, Weiss DG · 2001
Researchers examined the effects of 50 Hz electromagnetic fields on phagocytosis and free radical production in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages exposed in vitro to magnetic field densities of 0.5 to 1.5 mT. Short-time exposure of 45 minutes resulted in a significantly increased phagocytic uptake of 36.3% plus or minus 15.1%, as measured by the internalization rate of latex beads. A significant increase in superoxide production was also detected after exposure to electromagnetic fields. Because co-exposure to electromagnetic fields and TPA showed no additive increase in bead uptake, researchers concluded that the electromagnetic fields-induced stimulation does not involve the protein kinase C signal transduction pathway.
Lai H, Singh NP · 1997
Researchers investigated whether melatonin and the spin-trap compound N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) could block the effect of magnetic fields on brain cell DNA. Rats were injected with melatonin or PBN immediately before and after two hours of exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field at an intensity of 0.5 mT. Both drug treatments blocked the magnetic field-induced DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells, as measured by a microgel electrophoresis method.
Lundberg L, Sienkiewicz Z, Anthony DC, Broom KA. · 2019
Researchers exposed male C57BL/6J mice for 30 min to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 580 μT, blue LED light at 700 lux, both, or neither, to test whether power frequency magnetic fields can influence circadian rhythm control. The magnetic fields did not modulate the response to light and had no significant effect on adrenal markers on their own, though they were associated with a decrease in locomotor activity (P < 0.03). Gene expression of cry1 and cry2 in the adrenals, liver, and hippocampus was not affected by any of the exposures (P > 0.05).
Fu Y, Wang C, Wang J, Lei Y, Ma Y · 2008
Researchers exposed mice to 25 or 50 Hz electromagnetic fields for either 7 days or 25 days and then tested them in the Y-maze. Long-term exposure to 50 Hz fields reduced recognition of the novel arm. Neither short- nor long-term exposure to magnetic fields affected the locomotor activity of mice in the Y-maze.
Gutiérrez-Mercado YK et al. · 2013
Researchers used 96 Wistar male rats divided into three groups of 32 rats each: a control group, a sham group, and an experimental group exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 120 Hz and 0.66 mT. All animals received colloidal carbon intravenously, and capillary permeability was studied using optical and transmission electron microscopy. In the exposed group, researchers detected an increase in capillary permeability and a significant increase in vascular area, effects not seen in the control or sham groups.
Gutiérrez-Mercado YK et al. · 2013
Researchers exposed rats to 120 Hz magnetic fields and found the fields made brain blood vessels leaky and dilated. This suggests EMF exposure might weaken the blood-brain barrier, which normally protects the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream.
Shahbazi-Gahrouei D, Shiri L, Alaei H, Naghdi N. · 2016
Researchers investigated the effect of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) at 10 Hz and 690–720 μT on the level of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) in adult male Wistar rats. A total of 24 adult Wistar male rats were exposed to the magnetic field for 15 successive days, after which 5-HIAA was measured from dialysate samples using high performance liquid chromatography. Exposure for 3 hours daily decreased 5-HIAA in the raphe nucleus, but exposure for 1 hour daily was not effective in altering the level of 5-HIAA.
Seif F, Bayatiani MR, Ansarihadipour H, Habibi G, Sadelaji S · 2018
Researchers divided adult male rats into three groups: a control group, a group exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELFMF), and a group given Myrtus communis extract before ELFMF exposure. The magnetic field was set at 0.7 mT and 50 Hz, applied for two hours a day for one month. ELFMF exposure decreased plasma antioxidant power and significantly increased markers of oxidative damage, including protein carbonyl, methemoglobin, and hemichrome concentrations. Administration of M. communis extract increased antioxidant power and decreased plasma protein carbonyl, methemoglobin, and hemichrome concentrations.
Medina-Fernandez FJ et al. · 2018
Researchers studied the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate, and dexamethasone on Dark Agouti rats given a single dose of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). MOG triggered a significant increase in clinical score and in levels of lipid peroxides and carbonylated proteins, but reduced the GSH/GSSG ratio in brain, spinal cord and blood. Both TMS and the clinical treatments decreased the changes caused by MOG, with TMS doing so more significantly.
Medina-Fernandez FJ et al. · 2017
Researchers injected rats with a single dose of 150 μg of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG, fragment 35–55) to produce experimental multiple sclerosis. The MOG injection caused motor symptoms such as tail paralysis and limb paresis/paralysis, along with oxidative stress and cell death similar to MS. Rats were then treated with extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields applied as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 60 Hz and 0.7 mT for 2 hours a day, once a day, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks. The researchers found that TMS attenuated motor symptoms and oxidative and cell damage, and also increased the antioxidant system.
Medina-Fernandez FJ et al. · 2017
Researchers used magnetic field therapy (similar to medical TMS treatment) on rats with an artificially induced multiple sclerosis-like condition. The 60 Hz magnetic fields at 0.7 milliTesla significantly reduced brain damage, improved motor symptoms, and decreased harmful oxidative stress. This suggests that controlled magnetic field exposure might have therapeutic potential for neurological conditions involving brain inflammation.
Jankowska M et al. · 2015
Researchers assumed that exposure to ELF-EMF would change the effects of a scorpion alpha toxin called LqhαIT on cockroach nerve function and on whole insects. Experiments were performed in vivo on cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and in vitro on isolated cockroach abdominal nerve cord with cerci. The exposure to ELF-EMF modified the effects of LqhαIT on activity of the cercal nerve and of the connective nerve, with a decrease in the toxin effect on the cercal nerve but an increase on the connective nerve. Biotests showed that toxicity of LqhαIT on cockroaches was reduced by the exposure to ELF-EMF at 0.7 and 7 mT.
Tasset I et al. · 2012
Researchers investigated the neuroprotective effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELFEF) in a rat model of Huntington's disease induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP). Rats were given 3NP over four consecutive days at 20 mg/kg body weight, and ELFEF at 60 Hz and 0.7 mT was applied over 21 days, starting after the last injection. Rats treated with 3NP showed significant differences in behavior, neurotrophic factor levels, oxidative stress biomarkers, and reduced neuronal density compared with neuronal controls. ELFEF improved neurological scores, enhanced neurotrophic factor levels, and reduced both oxidative damage and neuronal loss in 3NP-treated rats.
Tasset I et al. · 2012
Researchers exposed rats with Huntington's disease-like symptoms to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (60 Hz at 0.7 milliTesla) for 21 days. The EMF exposure improved the rats' neurological function, increased protective brain proteins, and prevented nerve cell death in the brain region most affected by Huntington's disease. This suggests that specific types of EMF exposure might have therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.
Ravera S et al. · 2010
Researchers investigated how extremely low frequency magnetic fields affect acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in synaptosomal membranes from the cerebellum. Sinusoidal 50 Hz fields at different amplitudes caused AChE activity to decrease about 27%, with a threshold of about 0.74 mT. The decrease was completely reversible and independent of the time spent in the field. When the synaptosomal membranes were solubilized with Triton, the fields did not affect AChE activity, suggesting the membrane plays a crucial role in the effect.
Ravera S et al. · 2010
Researchers exposed brain tissue to 50 Hz magnetic fields (power line frequency) and found it reduced activity of a key brain enzyme by 27%. This enzyme controls nerve communication for memory and learning, suggesting power-frequency fields can disrupt basic brain chemistry.
Coballase-Urrutia E et al. · 2018
Researchers studied the effects of static magnetic fields at 0.8 mT on oxidative stress markers in a restraint stress animal model. Exposure to static magnetic fields over 5 days at 30, 60, and 240 minutes per day decreased NO, MDA, AGEs, and AOPP levels and increased SOD and GSH levels, with the response being time-dependent.
