A simple experiment to study electromagnetic field effects: protection induced by short-term exposures to 60 Hz magnetic fields.
Stress proteins are important in protection during cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (cessation and return of blood flow) and are reportedly induced by electromagnetic (EM) fields. This suggests a possible ischemia protection role for EM exposures. To test this, chick embryos (96 h) were exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields prior to being placed into anoxia. Survival was 39.6% (control), and 68.7% (field-exposed). As a positive control, embryos were heated prior to anoxia (57.6% survival). We conclude that: 1) 60 Hz magnetic field exposures reduce anoxia-induced mortality in chick embryos, comparable to reductions observed following heat stress, and 2) this is a simple and rapid experiment to demonstrate the existence of weak EM field effects.
DiCarlo
A L
AL
Vitreous State Laboratory, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
Farrell
J M
JM
Litovitz
T A
TA
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D007511:Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008280:Magnetics; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate
D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins