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Extremely low frequency magnetic fields induce oxidative stress in rat brain.

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Manikonda PK, Rajendra P, Devendranath D, Gunasekaran B, Channakeshava, Aradhya SR, Sashidhar RB, Subramanyam C. · 2014

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Long-term exposure of rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields caused oxidative stress in all examined brain regions, more significantly at 100 µT than at 50 µT.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed male Wistar rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz, at intensities of 50 and 100 µT, for 90 days continuously. The hippocampal, cerebellar and cortical regions of the brain were analyzed for reactive oxygen species, markers of oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzymes. Compared with control rats, exposed rats showed oxidative stress and altered glutathione levels in a dose-dependent manner across all brain regions.

Why This Matters

The study focused on understanding the influence of long-term exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on oxidative stress in different regions of the rat brain. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation end products, and superoxide dismutase activity was lowest in the cerebellum and highest in the cortex. The researchers suggested that the varied influences observed in different brain regions may contribute to altered metabolic patterns in related regions of the central nervous system, leading to aberrant neuronal functions.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.05, 0.1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
90 days

Exposure Context

This study used 0.05, 0.1 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: 0.05, 0.1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 4 times higher than this level
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 investigation was conducted to understand the influence of long-term exposure of rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), focusing on oxidative stress (OS) on different regions of rat's brain.

Male Wistar rats (21-day-old) were exposed to ELF-MF (50 Hz; 50 and 100 µT) for 90 days continuously...

Accumulation of ROS, lipid peroxidation end products and activity of superoxide dismutase in differe...

Varied influences observed in different regions of the brain, as documented in this study, may contribute to altered metabolic patterns in its related regions of the central nervous system, leading to aberrant neuronal functions.

Cite This Study
Manikonda PK, Rajendra P, Devendranath D, Gunasekaran B, Channakeshava, Aradhya SR, Sashidhar RB, Subramanyam C. (2014). Extremely low frequency magnetic fields induce oxidative stress in rat brain. Gen Physiol Biophys 2014; 33 (1): 81-90.
Show BibTeX
@article{pk_2014_extremely_low_frequency_magnetic_279,
  author = {Manikonda PK and Rajendra P and Devendranath D and Gunasekaran B and Channakeshava and Aradhya SR and Sashidhar RB and Subramanyam C.},
  title = {Extremely low frequency magnetic fields induce oxidative stress in rat brain.},
  year = {2014},
  
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/med/24334533},
}
PubMed: 24334533

Cited By (29 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Male Wistar rats were used, and researchers analyzed the hippocampal, cerebellar and cortical regions of the brain.
Rats were exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 50 Hz, at intensities of 50 and 100 µT, for 90 days continuously.
Oxidative stress occurred in all examined brain regions, but more significantly at 100 µT than at 50 µT.
Varied influences were observed in different regions of the brain, as documented in the study.
Exposed rats showed altered glutathione levels in a dose-dependent manner in all regions of the brain.