title: Brain DNA damage and 70-kDa heat shock protein expression in CD1 mice exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic fields.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The question of whether exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF), may contribute to cerebral cancer and neurodegeneration is of current interest. In this study we investigated whether exposure to ELF-MF (50 Hz-1 mT) harms cerebral DNA and induces expression of 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70).
  
  
  METHODS
  CD1 mice were exposed to a MF (50 Hz-1 mT) for 1 or 7 days (15 h/day) and sacrificed either at the end of exposure or after 24 h. Unexposed and sham-exposed mice were used as controls. Mouse brains were dissected into cerebral cortex-striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum to evaluate primary DNA damage and hsp70 gene expression. Food intake, weight gain, and motor activity were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase in primary DNA damage was detected in all cerebral areas of the exposed mice sacrificed at the end of exposure, as compared to controls. DNA damage, as can be evaluated by the comet assay, appeared to be repaired in mice sacrificed 24 h after a 7-day exposure. Neither a short (15 h) nor long (7 days) MF-exposure induced hsp70 expression, metabolic and behavioural changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that in vivo ELF-MF induce reversible brain DNA damage while they do not elicit the stress response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariucci
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villarini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aristei
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000528:radiation effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins