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Kumari K, Koivisto H, Capstick M, Naarala J, Viluksela M, Tanila H, Juutilainen J. Behavioural phenotypes in mice after prenatal and early postnatal exposure to intermediate frequency magnetic fields. Environ Res 2018; 162:27-34. [PMID: 29276976 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Electromagnetic fields are ubiquitous in the environment. Human exposure to intermediate frequency (IF) fields is increasing due to applications like electronic article surveillance systems, wireless power transfer, and induction heating cooking hobs. However, there are limited data on possible health effects of exposure to IF magnetic fields (MF). In the present study, we set out to assess cognitive and behavioural effects of IF MF in mice exposed during prenatal and early postnatal periods. Pregnant female mice were exposed continuously to 7.5kHz MFs at 12 and 120μT, from mating until weaning of pups. Sham exposed pregnant mice were used as a control group. A behavioural teratology study was conducted on the male offspring at two months of age to detect possible effects on the developing nervous system. Body weight development did not differ between the exposure groups. The exposure did not alter spontaneous motor activity when exploring a novel cage or anxiety in novelty-suppressed feeding or marble burying tests. Improved performance in the Rotarod task was observed in the 12µT group, while the 120μT exposure group swam more slowly than the sham exposed group in the Morris swim navigation task. However, indices of learning and memory (path length and escape latency during task acquisition and search bias during the probe test) did not differ between the exposure groups. Furthermore, the passive avoidance task did not indicate any impairment of long-term memory over a 48h interval in the exposed groups. In a post-mortem histopathological analysis, there was no evidence for an effect of IF MF exposure on astroglial reactivity or hippocampal neurogenesis. The results suggest that the IF MF used did not have detrimental effects on spatial learning and memory or histological markers of tissue reaction. The two statistically significant findings that were observed (improved performance in the Rotarod task in the 12µT group and decreased swimming speed in the 120µT group) are likely to be chance findings, as they do not form an internally consistent, dose-dependent pattern indicative of specific developmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajal Kumari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | | | | | - Jonne Naarala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Matti Viluksela
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Environmental Health Unit, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heikki Tanila
- A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jukka Juutilainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Kumari K, Capstick M, Cassara AM, Herrala M, Koivisto H, Naarala J, Tanila H, Viluksela M, Juutilainen J. Effects of intermediate frequency magnetic fields on male fertility indicators in mice. Environ Res 2017; 157:64-70. [PMID: 28525858 PMCID: PMC5472253 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to intermediate frequency (IF) fields is increasing due to new applications such as electronic article surveillance systems, wireless power transfer and induction heating cookers. However, limited data is available on effects of IF magnetic fields (MF) on male fertility function. This study was conducted to assess possible effects on fertility indicators from exposure to IF MF. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed continuously for 5 weeks to 7.5kHz MF at 12 and 120μT. Sperm cells from cauda epididymis were analysed for motility, total sperm counts, and head abnormalities. Motile sperm cells were classified as progressive or non-progressive. Testicular spermatid heads were counted as well. The body weight development and reproductive tissue weights were not affected. No exposure-related differences were observed in sperm counts or sperm head abnormalities. Proportion of non-motile cells was significantly decreased in the 120µT group, and a corresponding increase was seen in the percentage of motile cells (significant in non-progressive motile cells). In conclusion, no adverse effects on fertility indicators were observed. Increased sperm motility is an interesting finding that needs to be confirmed in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kumari
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. BOX 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | | | | | - M Herrala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. BOX 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - H Koivisto
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Naarala
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. BOX 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - H Tanila
- A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - M Viluksela
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. BOX 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Chemicals and Health Unit, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Juutilainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. BOX 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Yoshie S, Ogasawara Y, Ikehata M, Ishii K, Suzuki Y, Wada K, Wake K, Nakasono S, Taki M, Ohkubo C. Evaluation of biological effects of intermediate frequency magnetic field on differentiation of embryonic stem cell. Toxicol Rep 2016; 3:135-140. [PMID: 28959531 PMCID: PMC5615788 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryotoxic effect of intermediate frequency (IF) magnetic field (MF) was evaluated using murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and fibroblast cells based on the embryonic stem cell test (EST). The cells were exposed to 21 kHz IF-MF up to magnetic flux density of 3.9 mT during the cell proliferation process (7 days) or the cell differentiation process (10 days) during which an embryonic body differentiated into myocardial cells. As a result, there was no significant difference in the cell proliferation between sham- and IF-MF-exposed cells for both ES and fibroblast cells. Similarly, the ratio of the number of ES-derived cell aggregates differentiated to myocardial cells to total number of cell aggregates was not changed by IF-MF exposure. In addition, the expressions of a cardiomyocytes-specific gene, Myl2, and an early developmental gene, Hba-x, in the exposed cell aggregate were not altered. Since the magnetic flux density adopted in this study is much higher than that generated by an inverter of the electrical railway, an induction heating (IH) cooktop, etc. in our daily lives, these results suggested that IF-MF in which the public is exposed to in general living environment would not have embryotoxic effect.
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Key Words
- 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil
- Differentiation
- EB, embryonic body
- ELF, extremely low frequency
- EMF, electromagnetic field
- ES, embryonic stem
- EST, embryonic stem cell test
- Embryonic stem cell
- Gene expression
- ICNIRP, International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
- IF, intermediate frequency
- IH, induction heating
- Intermediate frequency magnetic field
- MF, magnetic field
- RF, radiofrequency
- WHO, World Health Organization
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko Yoshie
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Human Science Division, Railway Technical Research Institute, 2-8-38, Hikari-cho, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8540, Japan
| | - Yuki Ogasawara
- Hygienic Chemistry, Health and Environmental Sciences, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
| | - Masateru Ikehata
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Human Science Division, Railway Technical Research Institute, 2-8-38, Hikari-cho, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8540, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Ishii
- Hygienic Chemistry, Health and Environmental Sciences, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1, Noshio, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
| | - Yukihisa Suzuki
- Faculty of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Keiji Wada
- Faculty of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Kanako Wake
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory, Applied Electromagnetic Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 4-2-1, Nukui-Kitamachi, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8795, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakasono
- EMF Environment Sector, Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 1646 Abiko, Abiko-shi, Chiba 270-1194, Japan
| | - Masao Taki
- Faculty of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Chiyoji Ohkubo
- Japan EMF Information Center, 2-9-11 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0014, Japan
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