Chronic Exposure to Static Magnetic Fields from Magnetic Resonance Imaging Devices Deserves Screening for Osteoporosis and Vitamin D Levels: A Rat Model.
Technicians often receive chronic magnetic exposures from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, mainly due to static magnetic fields (SMFs). Here, we ascertain the biological effects of chronic exposure to SMFs from MRI devices on the bone quality using rats exposed to SMFs in MRI examining rooms. Eighteen Wistar albino male rats were randomly assigned to SMF exposure (A), sham (B), and control (C) groups. Group A rats were positioned within 50 centimeters of the bore of the magnet of 1.5 T MRI machine during the nighttime for 8 weeks. We collected blood samples for biochemical analysis, and bone tissue samples for electron microscopic and histological analysis. The mean vitamin D level in Group A was lower than in the other groups (p = 0.002). The mean cortical thickness, the mean trabecular wall thickness, and number of trabeculae per 1 mm2 were significantly lower in Group A (p = 0.003). TUNEL assay revealed that apoptosis of osteocytes were significantly greater in Group A than the other groups (p = 0.005). The effect of SMFs in chronic exposure is related to movement within the magnetic field that induces low-frequency fields within the tissues. These fields can exceed the exposure limits necessary to deteriorate bone microstructure and vitamin D metabolism.
Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. hrgungor@gmail.com.
Harun R
HR
Gungor
Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. semihakkaya@yahoo.com.
Semih
S
Akkaya
Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. oknusret@gmail.com.
Nusret
N
Ok
Pathology Department, Servergazi State Hospital, Denizli 20100, Turkey. cerkezay@hotmail.com.
Aygun
A
Yorukoglu
Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. cagdasyorukoglu@hotmail.com.
Cagdas
C
Yorukoglu
Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. esatkiter@gmail.com.
Esat
E
Kiter
Histology and Embriology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. oguzemin@yahoo.com.
Emin O
EO
Oguz
Histology and Embriology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. nkeskin@pau.edu.tr.
Nazan
N
Keskin
Histology and Embriology Department, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli 20070, Turkey. gabban@pau.edu.tr.
Gulcin A
GA
Mete
D000818:Animals; D060526:Magnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
Static magnetic field; bone; chronic exposure; magnetic resonance imaging; osteoporosis; vitamin D