[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on apoptosis and cell cycle of mouse brain and liver cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on apoptosis and cell cycle of mouse brain and liver cells.


METHODS
Mice were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT electromagnetic fields for 2 weeks. TUNEL and flow cytometric methods were used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of brain and liver cells.


RESULTS
After exposure to 0.2 mT and 6.0 mT ELF EMFs for 2 weeks, apoptosis rates of brain cells [(5.60 +/- 1.47)% and (4.73 +/- 0.48)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(2.90 +/- 0.75)%], and apoptosis rates of liver cells [(4.19 +/- 2.08)% and (3.38 +/- 0.65)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(1.84 +/- 0.76)%]. G0/G1 cell percentage of brain cells [(80.21 +/- 1.68)% and (79.54 +/- 0.56)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(76.85 +/- 0.83)%], and those of liver cells [(79.42 +/- 1.80)% and (80.47 +/- 1.79)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(73.36 +/- 3.10)%]. The above differences were all statistically significant as P < 0.05. At the same time S and G2 + M cell percentage of brain and liver cells were significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to 50 Hz EMFs may alter cell cycle and induce apoptosis of mouse brain and liver cells.
Liu
Yun
Y
Department of Environmental Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
Hong
Rong
R
Yu
Yun-mei
YM
Weng
En-qi
EQ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice