Investigation of the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on platelet aggregation using a modified aggregometer.
OBJECTIVE
Electromagnetic fields have various effects on intracellular calcium levels, free oxygen radicals and various enzymes. The platelet activation pathway involves an increase in intracellular calcium levels and protein kinase C activation; and free oxygen radicals play a mediating role in this pathway. This study investigated whether 1 mT and 6 mT, 50 Hz magnetic fields had any effects on platelet aggregation.


METHODS
Blood from healthy volunteers was anticoagulated with either citrate or heparin. Each sample was divided in half and assigned to exposure and control groups. Platelet rich plasma samples in the exposure group were exposed to a 1 mT or a 6 mT, 50 Hz magnetic field for 1.5 or 1 h, respectively. The samples from both exposure and control groups were simultaneously evaluated using a modified optical aggregometer. Adenosine-diphosphate, collagen, and epinephrine were used as inducing agents. The slopes of the aggregation curve, the maximum values and the areas under the curves were recorded and compared.


RESULTS
A significant effect was observed only in the 1 mT-citrate group. It was found that magnetic field exposure significantly increased the maximum values and slopes of the collagen-induced aggregations.


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that magnetic field exposure has an activating effect on platelet aggregation.
Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. esagdilek@hotmail.com
Engin
E
Sağdilek
Oğuz
O
Sebik
Gürbüz
G
Celebi
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055096:Optical Devices; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D055815:Young Adult
D002951:Citrates; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D006493:Heparin; D003094:Collagen; D004837:Epinephrine