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Involvement of NMDA receptor in low-frequency magnetic field-induced anxiety in mice.

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Salunke BP, Umathe SN, Chavan JG. · 2014

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Exposure to a 50 Hz, 10 G magnetic field induced anxiety in mice, and the NMDA receptor appeared to be involved in that effect.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed Swiss albino mice to a 50 Hz, 10 G extremely low-frequency magnetic field for 8 hours per day across periods of up to 120 days. Anxiety was measured using an elevated plus maze, open field test, and social interaction test, on the 7th, 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th exposure day, respectively. The findings suggest that the magnetic field significantly induced anxiety behavior and that the NMDA receptor was involved in its effect. Glutamate and GABA levels were significantly elevated in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, though GABA receptor modulators did not produce a significant effect on the induced anxiety.

Why This Matters

To probe which receptors were involved, researchers treated mice with muscimol, bicuculline, NMDA, and MK-801 as GABA-A and NMDA receptor agonists and antagonists, respectively. A glutamate receptor agonist exacerbated the magnetic field-induced anxiety, while an inhibitor attenuated it, pointing toward the NMDA receptor as a key part of the effect. In contrast, drugs that act on GABA receptors did not significantly change the anxiety produced by the magnetic field exposure. Brain levels of both glutamate and GABA were significantly elevated in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, while other regions such as the cortex and striatum were also measured.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
8 hours/day for 7, 30, 60, 90, or 120 days

Exposure Context

This study used 1 mT for magnetic fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 5 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

the present study was carried out to understand the contribution of NMDA and/or GABA receptors modulation in ELFMF-induced anxiety for which Swiss albino mice were exposed to ELFMF (50 Hz, 10 G) by subjecting them to Helmholtz coils.

The exposure was for 8 h/day for 7, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Anxiety level was assessed in elevated ...

Glutamate receptor agonist exacerbated while inhibitor attenuated the ELFMF-induced anxiety. In addi...

Together, these findings suggest that ELFMF significantly induced anxiety behavior, and indicated the involvement of NMDA receptor in its effect.

Cite This Study
Salunke BP, Umathe SN, Chavan JG. (2014). Involvement of NMDA receptor in low-frequency magnetic field-induced anxiety in mice. Electromagn Biol Med 2014; 33 (4): 312-326.
Show BibTeX
@article{bp_2014_involvement_of_nmda_receptor_293,
  author = {Salunke BP and Umathe SN and Chavan JG. },
  title = {Involvement of NMDA receptor in low-frequency magnetic field-induced anxiety in mice.},
  year = {2014},
  doi = {10.3109/15368378.2013.839453},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2013.839453},
}
DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2013.839453

Cited By (24 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Mice were exposed to a 50 Hz, 10 G extremely low-frequency magnetic field using Helmholtz coils.
The exposure was for 8 hours per day, with assessments at 7, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days.
The findings indicated the involvement of the NMDA receptor, as a glutamate receptor agonist exacerbated anxiety and an inhibitor attenuated it.
GABA receptor modulators did not produce a significant effect on the magnetic field-induced anxiety at the tested doses.
Significant elevation of GABA and glutamate levels was found in the hippocampus and hypothalamus.