title: Effects of acute and chronic low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on PC12 cells during neuronal differentiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to provide information about the in vitro neuritogenesis during cell exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) of different intensities and durations using pheochromocytoma-derived cell line (PC12 cells) as neuronal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proliferative rates and neuritogenesis were tested by colorimetric assay and morphological analysis, respectively; reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and intracellular Ca(2+) variations monitored using single cell videomicroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The long-lasting ELF-EMF exposure (0.1-1.0 mT) did not appear to significantly affect the biological response (proliferation and neuritogenesis). However, during the acute ELF-EMF exposure (30 min), in undifferentiated PC12 cells, there were increased ROS levels and decreased catalase activity, that, conversely, resulted increased after chronic exposure (7 days) at 1.0 mT. Acute exposure (0.1-1.0 mT) affected the spontaneous intracellular Ca(2+) variations in undifferentiated cells, in which basal intracellular Ca(2+) resulted increased after chronic exposure. In addition acute exposure affected cell response to a depolarizing agent, while basal membrane potential was not changed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even if further studies remain necessary to identify the ROS/intracellular Ca(2+)cross-talking pathway activated by ELF-EMF exposure, we support the hypothesis that ROS and Ca(2+) could be the cellular "primum movens" of the ELF-EMF induced effects on biological systems.
authors.affiliation: Department Neuroscience and Imaging-Centro Studi sull'Invecchiamento (CeSI), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fanò
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mariggiò
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium