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DNA & Genetic Damage137 citations

Melatonin and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone block 60-Hz magnetic field-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells.

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Lai H, Singh NP · 1997

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Melatonin and PBN blocked 60-Hz magnetic field-induced DNA strand breaks in rat brain cells, suggesting free radicals may play a role.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

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.

Why This Matters

Melatonin and PBN are efficient free radical scavengers, and the study tested whether they could block the effect of magnetic fields on brain cell DNA. Melatonin was given at 1 mg/kg and PBN at 100 mg/kg, with injections timed immediately before and after the exposure period. Because both compounds are free radical scavengers and both blocked the DNA strand breaks, the researchers suggested that free radicals may play a role in magnetic field-induced DNA damage.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.5 mT
Source/Device
60-Hz
Exposure Duration
2 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 0.5 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: 0.5 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 3 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The present experiment was carried out to investigate whether treatment with melatonin and the spin-trap compound N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) could block the effect of magnetic fields on brain cell DNA.

Rats were injected with melatonin (1 mg/kg, sc) or PBN (100 mg/kg, ip) immediately before and after ...

We found that both drug treatments blocked the magnetic field-induced DNA single-and double-strand b...

Cite This Study
Lai H, Singh NP (1997). Melatonin and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone block 60-Hz magnetic field-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells. J Pineal Res. 22(3):152-162, 1997.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_1997_melatonin_and_ntertbutylalphaphenylnitrone_block_404,
  author = {Lai H and Singh NP},
  title = {Melatonin and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone block 60-Hz magnetic field-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells.},
  year = {1997},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1600-079X.1997.tb00317.x},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-079X.1997.tb00317.x},
}
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.1997.tb00317.x

Cited By (137 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Rats were exposed to a 60-Hz magnetic field at an intensity of 0.5 mT for two hours.
The magnetic field was associated with DNA single- and double-strand breaks in rat brain cells, detected by a microgel electrophoresis method.
Both drug treatments blocked the magnetic field-induced DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells.
The researchers suggested that free radicals may play a role in magnetic field-induced DNA damage, because melatonin and PBN are efficient free radical scavengers.
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.