Effect of ELF magnetic fields on lipid peroxidation, sperm count, p53, and trace elements.
BACKGROUND
Some epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest a possible connection between extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and certain illnesses, such as cancer, immune suppression, as well as reproductive toxic effects and abnormalities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ELF magnetic fields (1.35 mT) on sperm count, malondialdehyde concentration, the histology of such organs as the testes, brain, liver, and kidney tissues, p53 immunoreactivity of bone marrow, and the serum concentrations of Cu2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Fe3+ in rats.


METHODS
Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into two groups. The rats in the experimental group were exposed to an ELF magnetic field 2 hr/day for 2 months (7 days a week). The rats in the control group were not exposed to the ELF magnetic field. The exposure was performed in a Faraday cage (130 x 65 x 80 cm) with grounded shielding against the electric component. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for the statistical analysis of the data.


RESULTS
Magnetic field measurements showed that, under the experimental conditions, the magnetic field-exposure system produced a stable flux density of 1.35+/-0.018 mT and a stable frequency of 50 Hz, with negligible harmonics and no transients. However, no statistically significant alteration was observed in the parameters measured in this study except in Mn2+ concentrations (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study found no evidence of an adverse effect of ELF magnetic fields on the measured parameters except for significantly increased Mn2+ concentrations (p<0.001).
Akdag
M Zulkuf
MZ
Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty of Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Dasdag
Suleyman
S
Aksen
Feyzan
F
Isik
Birgul
B
Yilmaz
Fahri
F
D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D008345:Manganese; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc