Increased vascular permeability in the circumventricular organs of adult rat brain due to stimulation by extremely low frequency magnetic fields
Gutiérrez-Mercado YK, Cañedo-Dorantes L, Gómez-Pinedo U, Serrano-Luna G, Bañuelos-Pineda J, Feria-Velasco A. · 2013
View Original AbstractELF magnetic fields at 0.66 mT increased brain blood vessel permeability in rats, potentially compromising the brain's protective barrier.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (120 Hz at 0.66 mT) and found that these fields increased blood vessel permeability in specific brain regions called circumventricular organs. The magnetic field exposure caused blood vessels to dilate and become more permeable to substances that normally can't cross into brain tissue. This suggests that ELF magnetic fields can compromise the brain's protective blood barrier system.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a concerning mechanism by which ELF magnetic fields may affect brain function. The blood-brain barrier serves as a critical protective system, carefully controlling what substances can enter brain tissue. When this barrier becomes more permeable, as demonstrated here, it potentially allows harmful substances to reach the brain that would normally be blocked. The exposure level used (0.66 mT at 120 Hz) is within the range of fields generated by some electrical appliances and power lines, though higher than typical household exposures. What makes this research particularly significant is that it identifies a specific biological pathway through which ELF fields could contribute to neurological problems. The vasodilation and increased permeability observed could explain why some studies have linked ELF exposure to various brain-related health issues.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.66 mG
- Source/Device
- 120 Hz
Exposure Context
This study used 0.66 mG for magnetic fields:
- 33Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 6.6Kx 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
In the current study, the effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) MF on the capillaries of some circumventricular organs (CVOs) are demonstrated; a vasodilator effect is reported as well as an increase in their permeability to non‐liposoluble substances.
For this study, 96 Wistar male rats (250 g body mass) were used and divided into three groups of 32...
An increase in capillary permeability to CC was detected in the ELF‐MF‐exposed group as well as a si...
Show BibTeX
@article{yk_2013_increased_vascular_permeability_in_255,
author = {Gutiérrez-Mercado YK and Cañedo-Dorantes L and Gómez-Pinedo U and Serrano-Luna G and Bañuelos-Pineda J and Feria-Velasco A.},
title = {Increased vascular permeability in the circumventricular organs of adult rat brain due to stimulation by extremely low frequency magnetic fields},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1002/bem.21757},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.21757},
}