Effects of acute and chronic low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on PC12 cells during neuronal differentiation
Morabito C, Guarnieri S, Fanò G, Mariggiò MA · 2010
View Original AbstractShort-term ELF-EMF exposure raised ROS levels and altered calcium signaling in PC12 cells, while longer exposure did not significantly affect cell growth or neurite formation.
Plain English Summary
Researchers studied how extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) of different intensities and durations affected PC12 cells, a cell line used as a neuronal model, during neuronal differentiation. Long-lasting ELF-EMF exposure did not appear to significantly affect proliferation or neuritogenesis. During acute exposure lasting 30 minutes, ROS levels were increased and catalase activity was decreased in undifferentiated PC12 cells, while chronic exposure at 1.0 mT increased catalase activity. Acute exposure affected spontaneous intracellular calcium variations, and basal intracellular calcium was increased after chronic exposure.
Why This Matters
The researchers used PC12 cells, a pheochromocytoma-derived cell line, as a neuronal model to study neuritogenesis in vitro. Proliferative rates and neuritogenesis were measured by colorimetric assay and morphological analysis, while ROS levels and intracellular calcium variations were monitored using single cell videomicroscopy. Acute exposure also affected the cell response to a depolarizing agent, while basal membrane potential was not changed. The researchers suggested that ROS and calcium could be the cellular starting point of ELF-EMF-induced effects on biological systems, though they noted further studies are needed to identify the relevant pathway.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.1-1.0 mT
- Exposure Duration
- 30 min (Acute exposure)
Exposure Context
This study used 0.1-1.0 mT for magnetic fields:
- 5Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 1Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
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 Details
The purpose of this study was to provide information about the in vitro neuritogenesis during cell exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) of different intensities and durations using pheochromocytoma-derived cell line (PC12 cells) as neuronal model
Proliferative rates and neuritogenesis were tested by colorimetric assay and morphological analysis,...
The long-lasting ELF-EMF exposure (0.1-1.0 mT) did not appear to significantly affect the biological...
Even if further studies remain necessary to identify the ROS/intracellular Ca2+cross-talking pathway activated by ELF-EMF exposure, we support the hypothesis that ROS and Ca2+ could be the cellular “primum movens” of the ELF-EMF induced effects on biological systems.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2010_effects_of_acute_and_429,
author = {Morabito C and Guarnieri S and Fanò G and Mariggiò MA},
title = {Effects of acute and chronic low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on PC12 cells during neuronal differentiation},
year = {2010},
url = {https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/324003},
}