title: Alteration of nitric oxide production in rats exposed to a prolonged, extremely low-frequency magnetic field.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible effect of an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) on nitric oxide (NO) level. In this study, 27 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The rats were divided into three groups: two experimental and one control (sham-exposed). The first and second experimental group (n = 10) were exposed to 100 microT and 500 microT ELF-MF during 10 months, 2 h a day, respectively, and the third (n = 7) group was treated like an experimental group except for ELF-MF exposure in methacrylate boxes. After ELF-MF and sham exposure, serum nitrite levels were measured by Griess reaction. A significant reduction was observed in nitrite levels among the first and second experimental groups of rats and sham-exposed rats after exposure for 10 months, 2 h a day, to ELF-MF of 100 and 500 microT (p < 0.01). These results suggest that prolonged ELF-MF exposure at intensities of exposure limits, determined by ICNIRP for public and occupational, may reduce NO production probably affected by NO generation pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Medical School, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Zulkuf
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Akdag
authors.forename: M Hakki
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasdag
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tumer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide