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Influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on Ca2+ signaling and double messenger system in mice hippocampus and reversal function of procyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod.

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Zhang H, Dai Y, Cheng Y, He Y, Manyakara Z, Duan Y, Sun G, Sun X. · 2017

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Power frequency magnetic fields disrupted brain chemistry and reduced protective proteins in mice, but antioxidants reversed the damage.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed mice to power line frequency magnetic fields for 4 hours daily over 28 days. The exposure disrupted brain chemistry in the hippocampus, reducing proteins essential for memory and learning while increasing harmful cellular changes that could affect cognitive function.

Why This Matters

This study provides compelling evidence that power frequency magnetic fields can disrupt fundamental brain chemistry at the cellular level. The 8 mT exposure used here is substantially higher than typical household levels (which range from 0.01 to 1 mT near appliances), but the four-week duration mirrors chronic, long-term exposure patterns many people experience. What makes this research particularly significant is its focus on the hippocampus and BDNF reduction. The hippocampus governs memory formation and learning, while BDNF protects neurons from damage and supports brain plasticity. The fact that natural antioxidants could reverse these effects suggests the damage operates through oxidative stress pathways. This adds to a growing body of evidence that EMF exposure can interfere with normal brain function, even at non-thermal levels that regulatory agencies currently consider safe.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
8 mG
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
4 h per day, for 28 days

Exposure Context

This study used 8 mG 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 ContextA logarithmic scale showing exposure levels relative to Building Biology concern thresholds and regulatory limits.Study Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 8 mGExtreme Concern5 mGFCC Limit2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 250x higher than this exposure level

Study Details

This research investigated the influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF; 50 Hz, 8 mT, 4 h per day, for 28 days) on calcium ion signaling and the double messenger system in the hippocampus of mice

Messengers that were studied included: G-protein, Ins(1,4,5)P3 (IP3), diacylglycerol (DAG), cAMP-dep...

The results showed that ELF-MF caused an increase in the levels of Gi protein, IP3, DAG, PKA and PKC...

All these showed that LSPCs may mediate calcium signal and double messenger system through Ca2+/CaMK II/CREB/BDNF and DG/PKC/MAPK signaling pathways to reverse the alteration caused by ELF-MF.

Cite This Study
Zhang H, Dai Y, Cheng Y, He Y, Manyakara Z, Duan Y, Sun G, Sun X. (2017). Influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on Ca2+ signaling and double messenger system in mice hippocampus and reversal function of procyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod. Bioelectromagnetics. 38(6):436-446, 2017.
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2017_influence_of_extremely_low_736,
  author = {Zhang H and Dai Y and Cheng Y and He Y and Manyakara Z and Duan Y and Sun G and Sun X.},
  title = {Influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on Ca2+ signaling and double messenger system in mice hippocampus and reversal function of procyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod.},
  year = {2017},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.22058},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.22058},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers exposed mice to power line frequency magnetic fields for 4 hours daily over 28 days. The exposure disrupted brain chemistry in the hippocampus, reducing proteins essential for memory and learning while increasing harmful cellular changes that could affect cognitive function.