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Sinusoidal ELF magnetic fields affect acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebellum synaptosomal membranes

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Ravera S, Bianco B, Cugnoli C, Panfoli I, Calzia D, Morelli A, Pepe IM · 2010

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Sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic fields reduced acetylcholinesterase activity in synaptosomal membranes by about 27%, with the effect fully reversible.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated how extremely low frequency magnetic fields affect acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in synaptosomal membranes from the cerebellum. Sinusoidal 50 Hz fields at different amplitudes caused AChE activity to decrease about 27%, with a threshold of about 0.74 mT. The decrease was completely reversible and independent of the time spent in the field. When the synaptosomal membranes were solubilized with Triton, the fields did not affect AChE activity, suggesting the membrane plays a crucial role in the effect.

Why This Matters

The inhibitory effect on AChE activity appeared across frequency windows, with different maximal values at 60, 200, 350, and 475 Hz. Identical results were also obtained with exposure to static magnetic fields of the same amplitudes. The researchers discussed the results in order to give an interpretation at molecular level of the macroscopic effects produced by ELF-MF on biological systems. That discussion included alterations of embryo development in many organisms due to acetylcholine accumulation.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.74 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 0.74 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: 0.74 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 4 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 effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF‐MF) on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of synaptosomal membranes were investigated.

Sinusoidal fields with 50 Hz frequency and different amplitudes caused AChE activity to decrease abo...

Cite This Study
Ravera S, Bianco B, Cugnoli C, Panfoli I, Calzia D, Morelli A, Pepe IM (2010). Sinusoidal ELF magnetic fields affect acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebellum synaptosomal membranes Bioelectromagnetics. 31(4):270-276, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2010_sinusoidal_elf_magnetic_fields_287,
  author = {Ravera S and Bianco B and Cugnoli C and Panfoli I and Calzia D and Morelli A and Pepe IM},
  title = {Sinusoidal ELF magnetic fields affect acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebellum synaptosomal membranes},
  year = {2010},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20563},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20563},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20563

Cited By (34 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

A threshold of about 0.74 mT was associated with the roughly 27% decrease in AChE activity.
The decrease in enzymatic activity was completely reversible.
The decrease in enzymatic activity was independent of the time of permanence in the field.
When synaptosomal membranes were solubilized with Triton, ELF magnetic fields did not affect AChE activity, pointing to the crucial role of the membrane and the lipid linkage of the enzyme.
The inhibitory effects on enzymatic activity were spread over frequency windows with different maximal values at 60, 200, 350, and 475 Hz.