Development of young rats and rabbits exposed to a strong electric field

Abstract

Body growth and circulating levels of hormones were assessed in young rats and rabbits exposed to a 50-Hz electric field of 50 kV/m. Eight-week-old male rats were exposed 8 h/day for 4 weeks and rabbits were exposed 16 h/day from the last 2 weeks of gestation to 6 weeks after birth. The body and the organ growth of exposed rats were not statistically different from those of sham-exposed controls. No important differences from controls were observed in plasma levels of corticosterone, TSH, ACTH, and T4 or in adrenal levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and corticosterone although T3 was slightly, but significantly, decreased. No large histological changes in the thyroid or adrenals were noted. In rabbits, organ and body weights of exposed animals were comparable to those of controls. Plasma levels of various hormones (ACTH, GH, T3, T4, corticosterone, cortisol), serum glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol were not significantly altered. Adrenal content of cortisol was lower, however, in exposed rabbits. No histological changes of the thyroid or adrenal glands were observed.

Effects of electromagnetic fields on serum lipids in workers of a power plant

“…Nevertheless, the two studies also did not find statistically significant change for HDL-c level, which is inconsistent with our results. In addition, many animal studies also reported that exposure to EMF did not change the blood levels of TC (Celikozlu et al 2012;Kim et al 2006;Portet and Cabanes 1988;Smialowicz et al 1981;Torres-Duran et al 2007) or TG (Bahaoddini et al 2008;Elferchichi et al 2010;Hori et al 2012;Portet and Cabanes 1988;Torres-Duran et al 2007), while other studies found an increase in blood TC or TG (Smialowicz et al 1981), even a decrease in TC (Bahaoddini et al 2008;Bellossi et al 1998;Coskun and Comlekci 2010;Hori et al 2012;Luo et al 2007), TG (Bellossi et al 1998;Coskun and Comlekci 2010;Luo et al 2007) and HDL-c (Luo et al 2007). Methodological variations such as the difference of exposure conditions (e.g., resource type, frequency, intensity, duration, and continuity of EMF exposure), subjects' susceptibility, or detection methods may have given rise to such inconsistent findings across studies.…”

“…Nevertheless, another human study reported that compared with radio relay station operators, significantly higher serum TC and LDL-c were found both in broadcasting station and TV station operators, with no change of serum TG and HDL-c (Vangelova et al 2006). In addition, many animal studies also reported that exposure to EMF could influence plasma or serum TC and TG, with few studies concerning serum LDL-c and HDL-c, but the results were inconsistent across studies (Bellossi et al 1998;Celikozlu et al 2012;Güler et al 2007;Hori et al 2012;Lahbib et al 2010;Lee et al 2006;Luo et al 2007;Portet and Cabanes 1988;Torres-Duran et al 2007).…”

Developmental effects of electromagnetic fields

“…Exposure to 50 Hz electric fields at 50 kV/m did not induce significant effects on growth and development in 8-week-old male rats exposed 8 h/day for 4 weeks or rabbits exposed 16 h/day from the last 2 weeks of gestation to 6 weeks after birth [Portet and Cabanes, 1988]. Sikov et al [1987] conducted a three generation study on Hanford Miniature swine.…”

Light and electron microscopic study of the thyroid gland in rats exposed to power-frequency electromagnetic fields

“…A histophysiological study of the thyroid in 2·month-old rats exposed to a 50·Hz electric field (50·kV·m -1 ) for 8·h a day for 4·weeks showed no effect on plasma TSH, T4 and thyroid structure, but the level of triiodothyronine (T3) was decreased (Portet and Cabanes, 1988). Increased thyroid gland activity was observed after 15·min exposure of rats to 20·mT, 50·Hz electromagnetic field (EMF), as judged from the increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the gland, and increased T3 and T4 (reviewed by Zagorskaya, 1989).…”