Response of Hippocampal Neurons and Glial Cells to Alternating Magnetic Field in Gerbils Submitted to Global Cerebral Ischemia.
Rauš S, Selaković V, Manojlović-Stojanoski M, Radenović L, Prolić Z, Janać B. · 2013
View Original AbstractThis study found that 50 Hz magnetic fields at 0.5 mT protected brain cells from stroke damage in gerbils.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed gerbils to 50 Hz magnetic fields (the same frequency as power lines) after inducing stroke-like brain damage to see if EMF exposure affected recovery. They found that animals exposed to magnetic fields at 0.5 mT had significantly less brain cell death and better immune cell responses compared to unexposed animals. This suggests that certain magnetic field exposures might actually protect brain tissue during injury recovery.
Why This Matters
This study presents an intriguing finding that challenges the typical narrative around EMF health effects. The researchers used magnetic field exposure at 0.5 mT, which is 500 times stronger than typical household power line exposures (around 1 µT). What makes this research particularly noteworthy is that it suggests potential therapeutic benefits rather than harm. The neuroprotective effects observed in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory and learning, occurred through enhanced glial cell responses that help clear damaged tissue and support healing. While this doesn't mean everyday EMF exposure is beneficial, it does highlight the complexity of biological responses to electromagnetic fields and suggests that the dose, timing, and context of exposure matter enormously. The science demonstrates that EMF effects aren't simply good or bad, but depend on specific parameters and biological conditions.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.5 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 7 days
Exposure Context
This study used 0.5 mG for magnetic fields:
- 25Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 5Kx 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 determine whether exposure to an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF, 50 Hz) affects the outcome of postischemic damage in the hippocampus of Mongolian gerbils
After 10-min bilateral carotid occlusion, the gerbils were continuously exposed to ELF-MF (average m...
Applying stereological methods, histological evaluation of changes in the hippocampus was done for d...
Applied ELF-MF has possible neuroprotective function in the hippocampus, as the most sensitive brain structure in the model of global cerebral ischemia, through reduction of neuronal death and activation of astrocytes and microglial cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{s_2013_response_of_hippocampal_neurons_695,
author = {Rauš S and Selaković V and Manojlović-Stojanoski M and Radenović L and Prolić Z and Janać B.},
title = {Response of Hippocampal Neurons and Glial Cells to Alternating Magnetic Field in Gerbils Submitted to Global Cerebral Ischemia.},
year = {2013},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22669750/},
}