title: Melatonin and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone block 60-Hz magnetic field-induced DNA single and double strand breaks in rat brain cells.
abstract: In previous research, we have found an increase in DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells of rats after acute exposure (two hours) to a sinusoidal 60-Hz magnetic field. The present experiment was carried out to investigate whether treatment with melatonin and the spin-trap compound N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) could block the effect of magnetic fields on brain cell DNA. Rats were injected with melatonin (1 mg/kg, sc) or PBN (100 mg/kg, ip) immediately before and after two hours of exposure to a 60-Hz magnetic field at an intensity of 0.5 mT. We found that both drug treatments blocked the magnetic field-induced DNA single- and double-strand breaks in brain cells, as assayed by a microgel electrophoresis method. Since melatonin and PBN are efficient free radical scavengers, these data suggest that free radicals may play a role in magnetic field-induced DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Bioelectromagnetics Research Laboratory, Center for Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA. hlai@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D013113:Spin Labels; C029217:phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone; D004247:DNA; D008550:Melatonin