title: Alterations of hematological variations in rats exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (50 Hz).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of in vivo exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on whole blood parameters (hematological parameters) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty eight female Wistar rats, obtained from the Medical Science Application and Research Center, Dicle University, Turkey in 2004 were divided into four separate groups: two exposed groups (0.97 mT, 50 and 100 days, 3h/day) and two controls (sham).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eosinophil, hemoglobin and MPV levels significantly decreased in rats that were exposed to EMF for 50 days. When the data for rats exposed for 50 days and 100 days were compared, it was found that MPV levels in rats exposed for 100 days were significantly lower. There was no significant difference in total leukocyte, neutrofil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil counts, or in erythrocyte, Hct, MCH, MCHC, RDW, PLT and PDW levels between the exposed and sham-exposed groups. ELF-EMF exposure had no effect on body weight. Also, liver weight did not show any significant difference between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the applied ELF-EMF exposure may induce slight but statistically significant alterations in some hematological parameters of rats, within the physiological range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of OnsekizMart, Canakkale, Turkey. ducakir@comu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Dilek Ulker
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Beran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yokus
authors.forename: Mehmet Zulkuf
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Akdag
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sert
authors.forename: Nuriye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mete
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins